Journalists from the Daily Record and Sunday Mail newspapers have walked out on a 24-hour strike.

The industrial action follows plans announced by management in January to make 70 members of the company’s 250-strong staff redundant.

Forty people are reported to have applied for voluntary redundancy; however, union leaders claim Trinity Mirror chiefs want another 20 compulsory redundancies.

The Daily Record was once Scotland’s biggest-selling daily newspaper and its sister title the Sunday Mail still holds the top spot in the Sunday market.

But bosses hope to make efficiencies by integrating news desks and reforming working practices.

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has opposed the measures and called a ballot on strike action, garnering 85 per cent support for a one-day walk-out.

Jeremy Dear, NUJ General Secretary said: “The whole union is solidly behind the Record and Mail journalists.

“They are fighting for the future of quality tabloid journalism in Scotland as well as for their jobs.

“I urge all NUJ members to do everything they can to support their action.”

The newspaper group insists their titles will still be published during the action - but by a smaller staff.

The changes at the mass-circulation titles follow a major restructuring of the Herald and Times Group, publishers of the Herald, Sunday Herald, and Evening Times. In December 2008, 250 journalists were required to reapply for their jobs – with 40 positions to be axed.

The latest strike began at midnight on Friday and is scheduled to last until midnight Saturday.

A spokesman for the Daily Record and Sunday Mail Ltd, said: "The editorial restructure is a response to the current economic environment and the rapidly changing media landscape. While we have been working hard to achieve the reduction of staff numbers by voluntary means we cannot rule out compulsory redundancies.

"We fully appreciate that this is difficult for all involved, but it is absolutely vital that we take action now to safeguard the future of our newspapers."