The Guardian will cut 250 jobs as it seeks to staunch heavy losses, raising the threat of its first ever compulsory redundancies.

The publisher told staff that there was “urgent need for radical action” as it announced 100 journalists and 150 staff in non-editorial departments will lose their jobs.

Kath Viner, editor of the Guardian, and David Pemsel, chief executive of Guardian Media Group, said they would aim to rely on volunteers to make the savings required, but warned they could not rule out compulsory redundancies. Previous voluntary redundancy programmes at the publisher have fallen well short of their targets.

In total the Guardian will seek to reduce its staff by 310, as 60 vacant roles will not be filled. The redundancies in editorial account for around a seventh of its UK newsroom.

The staff cuts are at the heart of plans by Ms Viner and Mr Pemsel to slash 20pc from the Guardian’s cost base and break even within three years.

Operating losses this year are close to £60m and the investment fund created to support its journalism has lost nearly £100m in value, as it has spent heavily on expansion in the United States and Australia. The international operations are unaffected by the redundancy programme.