The County Times sells thousands of copies in Newtown

Powys County Times and Express said it was relocating its staff to its head office in nearby Welshpool.

The paper said the town would still be key to its coverage, and that no reporters' jobs would be lost.

Its links with Newtown go back to 1859 with the Montgomeryshire Express, which merged with the County Times in 1969.

The paper's coverage extends throughout Powys, and according to official figures it sells most of its copies in Newtown.

Owners North Wales Newspapers (NWN) said every effort would be made to ensure the "people of Newtown and surrounding areas do not suffer as a result of this decision".

'Very sad'

But some readers described the move as "short-sighted".

Graham Breeze, NWN's publishing director and former County Times editor, said: "I can confirm that North Wales Newspapers will be closing the Newtown branch office of the County Times and centralising both the editorial and commercial departments at the title's head office in Welshpool."

He said staff were told on Friday, adding that there would be "no editorial job losses".

The news comes just a few days after rival paper, the Shropshire Star, shut its office in Newtown and relocated in Welshpool.

Readers of both papers said they were shocked.

Philip Glynn, who visits the County Times office and regularly writes letters to the paper, said: "It's hard to believe that the biggest town in Powys will not have a newspaper office in the future."

Don Griffiths, who worked as a photographer in Newtown for the Montgomeryshire Express and the County Times for 40 years, said the decision made depressing reading for the town.

He added: "This is really very sad. This is a very short-sighted move by NWN."