The editor of the Gloucestershire Echo newspaper, Matt Holmes, says he is "absolutely gutted" after being made redundant.

The senior journalist's departure follows a major shake-up in which the county's two daily newspapers, the Echo and the Gloucester Citizen, will go weekly from October 12.

Matt Holmes posted on Facebook: "Absolutely gutted - Sad day leaving journalism after 25 years. I have been made redundant. I have really enjoyed working with some wonderful people.

"It really is the best job in the world. I'll be back doing something soon."

Mr Holmes (pictured), an experienced and highly respected journalist in both the print and digital media, took over the editorship of the Cheltenham-based Echo in 2014 from Kevan Blackadder who is now director of Cheltenham Business Improvement District.

The changes in publication of the Echo and Citizen have led to a net loss of five jobs including the picture editor Mikael Ludlow.

Trinity Mirror, who own the publications, say reading habits have changed with more and more people getting news from the group's websites like gloucestershirelive.co.uk

Trinity Mirror's newspaper the Bristol-based Western Daily Press will launch a Gloucestershire edition to provide daily news.

The Stroud Life weekly newspaper will also close but there will be a new Stroud edition of the Citizen.