Job losses are expected after classified ad publication Friday-Ad Ltd announced it was closing three shops and a warehouse in Sussex.

Bosses today announced its warehouse in Uckfield and shops in Heathfield, Crowborough and Bognor will close after Christmas.

Staff working at the affected shops were told of the decision by fax, which Group managing director Rob Paterson said would ensure all workers were informed simultaneously.

He blamed the closures on a steady decline in use of the shops as more people place their adverts on the internet.

He said there would be redundancies from the company, which is based in Sayers Common, near Burgess Hill, but hoped to relocate many of the affected workers.

Mr Paterson said: "All the areas in which we are closing down shops are core areas for us.

"But we were finding many of the 60,000 adverts we receive each week were not being received through the shops in the same way they were five, ten or 15 years ago.

"As you appreciate with the redundancy process, we will be looking to offer them alternative employment within the company so at the moment it's impossible to give a figure."

Friday-Ad started out in 1975. It now has 51 editions across the country.