She was appointed editor of the Echo in 1990, when she became the first woman in Britain since 1939 to edit a regional daily.

Regional editorial director Mike Norton said: "Under her editorship, the paper has gone from strength to strength, commanding one of the best long-term sales records of any regional daily in Britain.

"She is also one of the longest-serving regional editors in the country and has earned a distinguished reputation in the industry.

"She goes with our sincere thanks for all she has done for the company and with every good wish for the future."

Anita, (pictured), leaves Northcliffe Media on May 16.

The company has seen big changes to its Gloucestershire business in recent years.

Citizen editor Ian Mean was appointed editor-in-chief of Gloucestershire Media in January this year. Anita and the editor of The Forester, Viv Hargreaves, report to him.

In 2006 the Gloucestershire Echo in Cheltenham and The Citizen in Gloucester both moved into the Citizen's headquarters in Cheltenham, a move which merged some staff functions and also gave them a change in shift patterns.

Joint desks for subbing, production, photographic, features, sports, business and commercial features were brought in. The plans also created a joint reporting team to cover county-wide issues but news-gathering would remain individual to each title.

The 22,000-circulation daily covers the eastern side of Gloucestershire - from Evesham in the North to Cirencester in the south.

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