Mike Norton has been appointed as editor of the Derby Evening Telegraph.

He has been acting editor since September when Keith Perch left to take up a new post as regional director of Northcliffe Electronic Publishing (Midlands).

Mike joined the company from Trinity Mirror’s Cardiff-based South Wales Echo in 1997 as assistant editor and was promoted to deputy in 1999.

He said: “I am very honoured to be part of a history that goes back more than 120 years.

“The Evening Telegraph has always played a vital role in the city’s daily life and there are exciting times ahead for it.

“I have many plans for its development – but I also need to ensure that it remains a trusted, campaigning, local newspaper that stays relevant to the people who read it.”

Managing director Tim Kitchen said: “During this period of time he has helped reinforce the position of the Derby Evening Telegraph as a community-based newspaper and has played a fundamental role in the success that the newspaper enjoys today.

“Over the past six months he has shown quite clearly that he has the skills and strengths to take on the editorship and I am pleased this has been recognised by Alec Davidson, our group managing director.”