Colin Tapping, deputy editor of The Northern Echo, has been appointed to his first editorship.

Colin, (right), who has worked for The Northern Echo for 18 years, is to become editor of the Hexham Courant in the New Year.

He will succeed Eve Fuller, who is retiring.

Colin said: "It will be a 'real wrench' to leave The Northern Echo after such a long time but the opportunity to edit a highly-respected weekly paper in a beautiful part of the world was too good to turn down."

Before joining The Northern Echo as Sunderland district reporter, Colin had worked for eight years on the Durham Advertiser Series.

He went on to become business editor of The Northern Echo before being promoted to assistant editor and then deputy editor.

Peter Barron, editor of The Northern Echo, said: "Colin has been an outstanding deputy and his departure is a great loss to the paper and to me personally.

"However, he deserves the chance to edit his own paper and I have no doubt he will be a huge success. All his colleagues wish him well."

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail pastill@nep.co.uk