Inverness Courier senior reporter Robert Taylor has been appointed assistant editor at the paper.

The twice-weekly paper based in the Scottish Highlands appointed award-winning reporter Robert, (43), to the position last week.

He joined the paper in April this year, but the experienced journalist who lives in Drumnadrochit with his wife and four children has a long history in newspapers.

Robert (left) previously ran the Aberdeen and Highland offices of the now-defunct Business AM since its launch in 2000.

He was also Highland news editor at the Press and Journal between 1996 and 2000.

From 1990 to 1993 Robert was medical correspondent for the Yorkshire Post where he won the specialist writer of the year at the British Regional Press awards in 1992 for a series of health features.

He then moved up to become night news editor at the paper until 1996.

During the 1980s Robert covered the miners strike for the Sheffield Star and was acting news editor at the time of the Hillsborough disaster.

He said: "I am delighted and surprised at being appointed assistant editor at the Inverness Courier.

"I really did not expect it as I joined the paper while I made up my mind up about my future. The offer came out of the blue.

"This is a lovely area and I would have found it very difficult to move out as my life is here, and my children go to school here. This job has given us the opportunity to be able to stay."

He plans to develop the news side of the paper even more in the future.

He added: "We have an excellent staff here and I will continue the development of news and am looking forward to pushing the boundaries."

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