The owner of The Guardian and The Observer newspapers is to make compulsory redundancies for the first time in its history as management attempts to stem years of financial losses.

The newspaper's proprietor, Guardian Media Group, has told its 1,500 staff that some of their jobs will be lost as part of its plans for the second year of its three-year turnaround plan.

Chief executive David Pemsel and editor-in-chief Katharine Viner told staff in a letter that its "operating costs remain too high, trading conditions remain tough, and further changes and cost savings will be necessary" if GMG is to meet its target of breaking even by 2018/19.

"Over the course of the next year we anticipate this will lead to some redundancies in the UK and any such proposals will be discussed within the relevant departments," they continued.

Without these cuts, the long-term future of the newspapers remains "uncertain", the pair warned.