Andy Phelan has been appointed editor of the Torquay Herald Express.

He joins the paper from the Plymouth Evening Herald, where he had been deputy editor, and takes up his new post with immediate effect.

The 38-year-old started his career as a reporter at the Tavistock Times.

He joined the Evening Herald as a sports reporter in September 1997 and became sports editor in 1998.

He was appointed assistant editor in 2004 and became deputy editor last year.

Andy said: “I am very proud to become the editor of the Herald Express.

“I am delighted to be here as this paper has rightly earned a fantastic reputation which I and the team will endeavour to uphold for the future.

“I look forward to the challenges ahead.”

Andy succeeds Brendan Hanrahan, who stepped down last month after seven years as editor.

Both the Herald Express and Evening Herald are owned by Northcliffe.