THE BBC is to cut over 400 posts under plans to make millions of pounds of savings over the next two years.

Staff were being told details of the cuts at a briefing at the corporation's central London headquarters, including news of new jobs being created.

Around 190 new posts will be created, with 415 cut, leading to a net reduction of 220 full-time jobs across news and current affairs.

Director of news James Harding gave staff details of the cuts as well as changes such as combining production teams for some BBC programmes.

It is believed there will be around 79 job losses in the newsroom, saving £11 million and 53 cuts in newsgathering, saving £6 million.

Five jobs will go from programmes, helping to save £3 million, while 105 jobs will go from the World Service.

Office closures will save £1.5 million, while two posts will go from political programmes.

Around £4 million will be invested in "digital transformation", and £38 million in "original and distinctive" journalism.

© Press Association 2014