Sam Holliday is to become the new editor of the Bath Chronicle.

Staff at the paper were told this morning that he will succeed David Gledhill, who stood down as editor last month after 11 years.

Sam, (41), is currently group editor of Central Independent Newspapers and editor of the Tamworth Herald, which, like the Chronicle, is owned by Northcliffe Newspapers.

He will take up his new role on September 5.

Sam joined CIN as a reporter in 1983 and since then has worked for the group's titles in a variety of roles.

In 1999 he became editor of the group's flagship title the Tamworth Herald and, in 2000, was appointed group editor of all CIN's nine weekly newspaper titles.

These include the Lichfield Mercury, Sutton Coldfield Observer, Walsall Advertiser, Cannock Chase Mercury and the Great Barr Observer.