Award-winning journalist Nic Outterside is to succeed Alistair Syme as editor of the 7,000+ circulation weekly Denbighshire Free Press.

He moves from sister title the Powys County Times, where he was deputy editor.

Alistair has left to take on a new role in public relations after five years in charge.

Brighton born Nic, (50), started his career in the early 1980s working for a series of glossy magazines.

He cut his teeth on newspaper reporting with the North Wales Weekly News before moving to Scotland to edit three weekly broadsheets.

He later became chief investigative reporter for The Scotsman and filled the same role for north of England tabloid the Sunday Sun.

Among a clutch of awards to his name are Scottish Daily Journalist of the Year, Scottish Weekly Journalist of the Year and North of England Daily Journalist of the Year.

He said: “My first passion has always been for strong and authoritative weekly newspapers and it is an absolute delight to lead the team at the Denbighshire Free Press, which in my opinion is one of the best weeklies in the UK.”

North Wales Newspapers publishing director Graham Breeze said of his departing editor: “Alistair had been with the company for nearly 30 years and since taking over at the Free Press has increased sales every year – there can be no better testament to his ability than that.”