THE chief executive of Worcester News' publisher Newsquest has written to the Government severely criticising cost sanctions for the local press.

Henry Faure Walker has told Culture Secretary Karen Bradley the impact will be "devastating" if she goes ahead and imposes a controversial penalty known as Section 40.

Under the legislation, publishers face paying both sides' court costs in libel and privacy cases even if they win.

It would apply to media organisations not part of a Royal Charter-backed press regulator, potentially hammering newspapers with eye-watering legal costs even if their journalism is verified as fair and accurate in court.

Mrs Bradley revealed this week how she was reviewing any further press regulation amid concern it could drive some newspapers "out of business".

The legislation, which forms part of the Crime and Courts Act 2013, has yet to be implemented despite being forced through the House of Lords.

In Mr Faure Walker's letter, he said: "We have no doubt that the consequences of doing so will be devastating for the local press and for the principle of press freedom in our democratic society.

"It is no secret that the purpose of Section 40 is to force the press into a state-ordained system of compulsory regulation.

"It is designed to do this by taking away from publishers who do not sign up to that system, their right in law to recover their costs in libel, privacy and other media cases in the courts.

"We will have to pay not only our own costs, but also the other side's costs as well, whether we win or lose.

"The ancient principle of equality under law is thrown out - everyone else will get their costs back if you win, but not if you belong to this ostracised class."

He said companies like Newsquest face the chilling threat of "crippling legal costs for doing our job", even after "vindicating in a court our lawful and responsible journalism".

Mr Faure Walker also said lawyers "will be queuing up to be paid for the pleasure of losing cases against us", and that the merits of any court dispute will "hardly matter" as their fees will be covered.

He called the legislation "extraordinary", saying when he talks to foreign media organisations they are "baffled" as to why the British Government is proposing to shackle the press.

Mrs Bradley has said she is looking afresh at implementing the final part of the press laws introduced in the wake of the Leveson Inquiry, which includes Section 40.

She said: "I want to make sure we have a free, vibrant local newspaper industry and to make sure they succeed and continue to do the investigative journalism they do, without fear an exemplary damages claim against them could put them out of business."

Newsquest Media Group is the UK's second biggest publisher of local newspapers with 160 well-known titles including the Worcester News.