The Salisbury Journal is to see a change of editor for the first time in more than 12 years.

David Eidlestein will stand down in April when Bill Browne, currently editor of the Basingstoke Gazette, will take over.

The pair, who worked together at the Southern Evening Echo (now Daily Echo), will work in tandem for a brief handover period.

David, (53), trained on the Journal – one of the oldest newspapers in the country – and has also worked for the Southern Evening Echo and the Western Daily Press.

He returned to the Journal in 1986 as deputy editor and became editor in 1990.

In January 1997, when it merged with its sister free paper the Avon Advertiser, David was promoted to editor-in-chief of the newly formed Salisbury Newspapers company.

Speaking about his 12 year editorship, David said: “I’ve been in the editor’s chair for a very long time and feel I need a break to take stock and do some travelling – I guess you could say I’m exploring my options.

“I have been in the business for more than 35 years and I think it is time to see what else life has to offer.

“I’m going to miss everything about the paper. I’m very aware of my place in history as an editor of the Journal. It has a great staff and it’s a wonderful city.”

During his time at the helm, the Journal’s circulation has risen from 25,000 to more than 30,000 and the newspaper has won a host of industry awards.