March 19 (Reuters) - British regional newspaper publisherJohnston Press Plc said full-year profit more thanhalved on lower advertising revenue, and added that thechallenging trading environment seen in the second half of 2012had continued into the start of this year.
The company, which publishes the Scotsman and the YorkshirePost, said it has continued to reduce its workforce, with thenumber of staff employed by the group falling to just over 4,350at the end of December, down 23.1 percent from 2011.
Total advertising revenue for the first 10 weeks of 2013were 15.6 percent below the same period in the prior year,Johnston Press said.
Pretax profit fell to 12.6 million pounds ($19 million) onan underlying basis in the year ended Dec. 29, from 28.4 millionpounds a year earlier.
Revenue fell 12 percent to 328.7 million pounds.
The group that publishes 13 daily newspapers and more than230 weeklies, said advertising revenue declined 12.7 percent to201.9 million pounds.
Shares in the company closed at 13.25 pence on Monday on theLondon Stock Exchange.
