Part of the production operation at Isle of Man Newspapers is being moved to the United Kingdom, with the possible loss of six jobs.

The plan is to transfer the type-setting of advertisments to a processing centre in Preston, owned by parent company Johnston Press.

Type-setting of editorial material for the three Isle of Man Newspapers titles won't be affected, and the papers will continue to be printed in Douglas.

The company has confirmed the plan would lead to the loss of jobs, and says it has entered a period of consultation with the six people affected.

This will involve "exploring the proposal, including any alternatives, and examining ways of mitigating the effects on staff".

The consultation process should be completed by the end of the month.