James Garnett has been appointed news editor at the Plymouth Evening Herald.

Previously deputy news editor, he has risen quickly through the ranks, having progressed from trainee reporter in less than five years and serving as deputy news editor for just three months.

After joining the Evening Herald in 2000, the 32-year-old passed his NCE in December 2001.

He also served as the paper’s defence reporter, following local troops to countries such as Belize in central America and Afghanistan.

Evening Herald editor Alan Qualtrough said: “James has worked tremedously hard for the Evening Herald during the last five years and it is a measure of his capabilities that he is now the news editor.”

James succeeds John Casey, who left the paper to pursue a career in PR.