Chris Lloyd has been appointed deputy editor of The Northern Echo.

Chris, (40), has been assistant editor for the past four years and is also the paper's political editor.

He joined the Echo's sister paper, the Darlington & Stockton Times, as a trainee reporter in December 1987, moving to the regional morning title a year later, and rising to become features editor.

Chris writes a popular local history column called Echo Memories, which has been turned into a successful series of books.

And he is also the author of Attacking The Devil, the official history of The Northern Echo.

Editor Peter Barron said: "The job attracted an extremely strong field of applicants but Chris's knowledge of the paper, and his strong local connections, gave him the edge."

Chris succeeds Colin Tapping, who is now editor of the Hexham Courant.

The post of assistant editor is now being advertised.