Publishers of the Barnet Press are cutting hundreds of jobs after revealing a drop of almost ten per cent in pre-tax profits in the first half of the year.

Some 800 jobs are going over two years and the publishers, Trinity Mirror, estimate savings will be more than £25m next year, growing to between £30m and £35m in 2003.

The company, which publishes 260 titles, has hit "volatile" advertising conditions but local management has been unavailable for comment.