A press agency has strengthened its news desk in time for the Olympics with the appointment of two former regional newspaper journalists.

National press agency Sportsbeat has taken on Ric Sumner, former editor of the Oxford Journal and group editor of the Oxfordshire Guardian series and the Basingstoke Observer.

Ric will take on the role of senior news editor, while former Grimsby Telegraph sports editor Paul Smith is also joining the team.

The agency will have a reporting and editing staff of 20 working exclusively on this summer’s London 2012 Olympics, providing text and video content across a range of clients.

The agency is also producing Team GB’s official media guide.

Ric will work alongside David Jordan, and report to executive editor David Parsons and deputy editor Stephen Bond.

Last year Sportsbeat provided over 20,000 stories across a range of national, regional and local media titles and more than 300 websites.