Mike Almond is to leave Archant Herts & Cambs after 17 years to head for a place in the sun.

He will fulfil a dream to run his own newspaper, as publishing director for The Portugal Resident, a weekly English-language newspaper for ex-pats.

Mike, (52), is taking early retirement from his role as publisher on August 4.

He will work on The Portugal Resident from the office at his family home in Suffolk with monthly trips to Portugal, taking over responsibility for editorial, print and publishing, while his wife Sarah will continue with her work as a teacher in Bury St Edmunds.

He said: "The paper employs 20 people and is about the same size as the Dunmow Broadcast. It is around 56 pages and in Berliner format.

"I am happiest when producing newspapers, and it has been my dream since I was a young journalist to have my own paper, and what better place to do it than the Algarve. If I don't do it now I never will and I am really excited about it.”

Mike was appointed publisher of East Herts & Essex last October following the de-merger of Archant Anglia. He joined Archant in 1989 as editor of the West Suffolk Mercury Series based in Bury St Edmunds and moved to Royston in Herts, in 1993 as managing editor for Mid-Anglia Newspapers (The Royston Crow, Saffron Walden Reporter and Dunmow Broadcast).

When the Mid-Anglia titles became part of Archant Anglia in 1998, Mike also assumed editorial responsibility for the Anglia Advertiser Series plus divisional responsibility for editorial budgets and training.

Prior to that Mike worked in PR in Dubai for seven years.

He said: "I am sad to leave Archant in one way as I love producing newspapers and love editing them. I have seen lots of changes over the years and have worked in six different parts of the company.

"I have had a great time, met some great people and worked on some great papers."

Archant Herts & Cambs MD Stuart McCreery said: "Mike has made a really positive contribution to the business since its formation.

"It has seen some difficult times and Mike has helped put a strategy in place that should see a more secure future."