ITV to merge regional newsrooms

Broadcaster ITV is hoping to reduce its number of regional newsrooms from 17 to nine by merging some services.

The broadcaster aims to save between £35m and £40m a year to invest in programmes with the closures, but must get permission from regulator Ofcom.

The London, Granada and Wales regional services will be the only ones unaffected by the proposed changes.

The mergers are part of ITV boss Michael Grade's five-year plan to improve programming.

As part of the shake-up ITV plans to merge its West and Westcountry news shows - but the new programme would include short, recorded sections containing additional local content.

The same is planned for the Border and Tyne Tees regions as well as the East and West Midlands and the Meridian and Thames Valley areas.