A newspaper office is threatened with closure and the loss of seven jobs after a regional publisher announced plans to merge two titles.

Archant London has told staff at the Gravesend Reporter and Dartford and Swanley Times that it wants to merge the titles and shut the offices in Manor Road, Gravesend.

Some jobs could switch to its Kent editorial hub in Sidcup, while sub-editors and sports writers may transfer to offices in Ilford, Essex, where it already has a common production unit and sports desk.

In a statement, the company said: "Archant London has announced it is to merge the Gravesend Reporter and Dartford and Swanley Times and at the same time close its Gravesend office.

"As a result of these decisions it is proposed that Archant London's Kent editorial operation, run out of the Sidcup office, be restructured.

"It is proposed that editorial production is carried out within the existing common production unit based in Ilford and sport is absorbed into the existing Ilford-based group sports unit.

"Consultation will now commence with those affected by the closure of the Gravesend office and the editorial restructure proposal."

Archant also owns Kent-based KOS Media, which recently announced job losses.

The Gravesend Reporter, founded in 1856, and its predecessor title the Gravesend Advertiser were produced from offices in Harmer Street, Gravesend, since 1842. It moved to Manor Road more recently.