STAFF have reacted angrily to Meridian Broadcasting's decision to close its television studios near Maidstone and cut jobs.

The controversial move is part of a shake-up that will cost 175 jobs - around half Meridian's workforce - across its south east broadcasting area. At the same time, the company is to invest £6 million in new technology.

The moves, announced on Thursday, have been prompted by the merger of Granada and Carlton to create a single ITV.

Meridian did not spell out the precise number of jobs that will go at New Hythe, near Larkfield, although union officials fear it could be around half the workforce of about 50.

Meridian said in a press statement that "the proposed changes will require a reduction in the overall staffing levels across all of Meridian's sites over the next 12 months, and will be subject to a rigorous consultation process."

However, in a briefing paper for staff, Lindsay Charlton, managing director, said: "We do anticipate an overall reduction in our workforce of approximately 175 people over the next few months." Meridian said it would open new studios "in the Maidstone area" and a news bureau in Ashford.

For the first time in 20 years, the evening news programme will be presented and produced from studios outside the county when production switches to a new centre at Fareham, Hampshire, late next year.

Under the plans, Meridian's news and sports journalists will have to apply for the surviving jobs. They will be given extra satellite facilities that the broadcaster says will allow more live news reports.

"We believe that this substantial investment in new technology will allow us to deliver a more robust service whilst still maintaining our high editorial standards," said Mr Charlton.

"There will be greater emphasis on news gathering across the region in order to continue our high quality news service."

Mr Charlton said Meridian's commitment to providing the "best quality news, current affairs and diverse regional programmes" was "as strong as ever." But the National Union of Journalists called it a "black day for ITV and viewers."

It claimed that Granada was cutting costs to make a single ITV television company more attractive to a possible future buyer.

"For the first time for more than 20 years, the evening news programme for this region will not be presented from the area which it serves but from Hampshire," it said. "It is the start of the decimation of ITV as we have known it."

The NUJ said it would urge MPs to lobby the select committee on broadcasting that meets at Westminster on December 9. It wants a public inquiry into Granada's commitment to public service broadcasting.

The union has not ruled out industrial action at New Hythe if the proposals are not changed.