Liverpool Echo journalist Joe Riley has returned to work after he was criticised on local radio by Jimmy McGovern.

The long-serving arts editor and columnist had been absent from the newsroom while Echo management looked into the comments made by the television scriptwriter and playwright.

His remarks came following a preview of his new musical, King Cotton, at Liverpool's Empire Theatre, which Joe attended.

Managing editor Chris Walker had previously told holdthefrontpage the company was aware of Jimmy McGovern's comments and was looking into them.

During Joe's absence, colleagues at the Echo and sister paper the Daily Post presented a signed petition to management as a show of support for him.

Michael Ricketts, NUJ father of chapel for the Post and Echo, said: "The issue has been resolved to everybody's satisfaction and Joe and management have agreed to draw a line under it."

Joe has been arts editor of the Echo since 1974.

He confirmed that the matter was now closed.

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