The Chronicle & Echo understands that Anglia West news presenters, Caroline Oldrey and Tim Curtis, reporter and presenter Karl Heidel, and reporter Charlotte Fisher will all be out of a job by January, following cuts across Anglia News.

Mr Heidel, who has worked for Anglia for more than a decade as a reporter and stand-in presenter, told the Chronicle & Echo: "I would say that I'm very disappointed. I've been the face of Anglia for 11 years and I have had a great affinity with the job. I have always loved the job and I'm going to miss it terribly.

"To leave after all that time will be a great sadness."

Although no one at ITV would officially confirm which staff were leaving, it is understood that Mrs Oldrey – whose family live in Hackleton – will be going after working for Anglia for more than 20 years. Her fellow anchor, Mr Curtis, is the other big name to go with the popular Charlotte Fisher also set to disappear from screens.

About 30 jobs at Anglia News – about a third of its workforce – are being cut as part of a national plan by ITV to save £40m a year by axing more than 400 posts across its regional news service.

David Beake, of the NUJ National Executive, said both staff and viewers would suffer from the sackings.

He said: "ITV Anglia's mass sacking of its staff is disgraceful. ITV Anglia has broken its commitment to its staff, its commitments to the region, and its freely entered into commitments to public service broadcasting.

"Hurt, fear and despair are the result when a company's respect is reserved solely for its bottom line.

An ITV spokesman said: "We have made it clear there are ongoing changes. We have set out clear deadlines and remain in consultation with all staff and unions at ITV News."