Medway Messenger publisher Kent Messenger Group has confirmed it is going ahead with plans to close four offices and two radio studios, axing 59 jobs in the process.

The consultation period for the changes was completed late last week and 59 staff – 30 of those in editorial – have now left the company.

The company will go ahead with closing newspaper offices in Dover, Faversham, Sittingbourne and Tunbridge Wells, with the local areas to be served from the remaining offices in Larkfield and Wraik Hill. Offices for radio station KMFM in Tonbridge and Maidstone will close, with the journalists working in them to be transferred to other offices.