The veteran newspaper editor and publisher Harold Evans has been knighted in the New Years Honours list for his services to journalism.

Best known as editor of the Sunday Times between 1967 and 1981, he was then appointed editor of The Times, resigning a year later complaining of proprietor Rupert Murdoch breaching guarantees of editorial independence.

He began his career at the Manchester Evening News before moving to his first editorship – at the Northern Echo in Darlington.

The 75-year-old has lived in New York since 1984 and will not be known as Sir Harold after becoming an American citizen.

Another former editor of The Times, Simon Jenkins, is also knighted for services to journalism. He was also editor of the London Evening Standard and has carved a subsequent career in public service while still contributing to the paper as a columnist.