A number of jobs are at risk at the press, which prints the Chron and sister paper, the Evening Telegraph, based in Kettering.

All staff at the Upper Mounts site were informed of the proposal at a series of meetings and full consultations will be carried out with those affected.

The announcement was made by Northamptonshire Web, which is part of Johnston Press, also the owners of the Chron.

The proposal would result in the Chron and its sister publications being printed at another of the company's presses in Peterborough.

At the same time, Northamptonshire Newspapers, publisher of the Chronicle & Echo and Evening Telegraph, announced a proposal to restructure a number of departments within the company.

Simon Kennedy, general manager of Northamptonshire Newspapers, said: "As well as enabling efficiency gains to be realised across the group, these proposals also mark a significant strategic shift in our publishing strategy.

"The company remains totally committed to providing readers with highly relevant local content, delivered in a range of print and digital formats, when and where they want it, and these proposals are consistent with this objective.

"In the event that the proposals go ahead, we will try to minimise the impact through voluntary redundancy and redeployment to alternative positions," he added.

A decision will be made on August 29 after consultation ends.

The printing press in Upper Mounts is used by 39 other Johnston Press titles, printing more than one million copies a week.

Trade union Unite responded with dismay at the announcement of the closure.

Steve Sibbald National Officer said: "With the reduction in advertising revenue and circulation, along with the most dramatic increase in newspaper printing capacity we have ever seen in the UK, it is inevitable that this will continue to happen.

"News International is desperate to fill it's 85,000 copies per hour presses until they have virtually cornered the market, then watch their prices go up.

"We will do everything we can to alleviate the affect this has on our members, most of whom have worked in the industry for many decades."