Long-serving South London Press editor Hannah Walker is to join the committee of senior editors which oversees the Press Complaint’s Commission’s voluntary standards code.

Hannah, began her career as a reporter with the Birmingham Post and Mail group and went on to edit papers in Rugby, Northampton and East London, has been editor of the twice-weekly Press since 2000.

She is the latest regional press representative to join the the Editors’ Code of Practice Committee, which reviews the voluntary code of standards overseen by the Press Complaints Commission.

Hannah was nominated by the Newspaper Society to replace Mike Gilson, who has resigned following his departure as editor of The Scotsman earlier this year.

Daily Mail editor and code committee chairman Paul Dacre said: “The Committee’s strength lies in the very high quality of its members, drawn from across the British press.

“We are very pleased to welcome Hannah Walker, whose experience in the regional newspaper industry, both in South London and elsewhere, will be an asset.”

Other regional press figures on the committee include Neil Benson, editoirial director of Trinity Mirror Regionals, Adrian Faber, editor of Wolverhampton’s Express and Star, Doug Melloy, editor of the Rotherham and South Yorkshire Advertiser, and Ian Murray, editor of the Southern Daily Echo.

Another vacancy on the committee has occurred following the resignation of Neil Wallis, former executive editor of the News of the World. The PCC says his replacement will be announced in due course.