Stewart Gilbert has retired as editor of the Worcester News after seven years in the hotseat.

His role also included editing Berrow's Worcester Journal - the oldest continuously produced English language newspaper.

Kevin Ward will take over on Monday. He is currently publisher of Newsquest's East Wales Weeklies.

Kevin, (right), originally worked on weekly newspapers in his native Worcestershire before joining the South Wales Argus in 1989 as a sub-editor. In his time at the Newport evening he was edition manager, chief sub-editor, assistant editor and deputy editor, before taking over the weeklies in 2004.

Stewart Gilbert first went to Worcestershire in 1990, when he took over the Evesham Journal, Cotswold Journal, Stratford Journal and later the Admag Series.

Following his success at Evesham he was appointed editor of the Hereford Times, in 1993, and saw its readership grow to more than 42,000 - making it the fourth highest circulation weekly newspaper in the UK.

In 2001 he became editor of the Worcester News and Berrow's Journal, where again he has achieved great success - making it one of the top performing papers in the country.

His retirement at 60 ends a long career in journalism, including 28 years editing local newspapers.

He said: "In the market place of today, producing a newspaper that is recognised as one of the best small regionals in the country in both editorial quality and circulation terms gives me great pleasure.

"It's not just down to the editor, but one of the best editorial teams in the country, supported by one of the best management teams, who have single-mindedly driven the whole business to give the readers great value."

The Worcester News has a circulation of 18,682 (Mon-Fri, July-Dec 2006).