Yorkshire Post editor Tony Watson is to leave his job after 13 years.

He will step down at the end of the year but no announcement has been made about his next move.

Under his editorship, the Yorkshire Post has won a clutch of awards, and has set the standard for other regional titles.

Tony (right) has also overseen a comprehensive re-design, the introduction of award-winning supplements and launched a series of hard-hitting investigative campaigns.

This year the paper was named BT UK Regional Newspaper of the Year, which followed it being judged Best Daily Newspaper in the North of England for the third year running.

It was also named Regional Newspaper of the Year at the 2002 Newspaper Awards.

And at the UK Press Gazette Awards, it was named Regional Newspaper of the Year and Daily Newspaper of the Year – and also took the Team of the Year title, for its coverage of the September 11 attacks.

Tony, (47), first joined the Yorkshire Post as a reporter in 1984, and won several industry awards, including being named Provincial Journalist of the Year in the British Press Awards.

He moved to Granada TV’s World in Action, before returning to the Yorkshire Post in 1988 as deputy editor.

He was appointed editor the following year, becoming the 10th – and youngest – editor of the Yorkshire Post, at the age of 34.

He said: “To edit one of the country’s leading newspapers has been a great honour and a tremendous challenge, which I have thoroughly enjoyed.

“I have had the privilege of working with some very talented and dedicated journalists, whose skill and professionalism have contributed so much over the years to the reputation and success of the Yorkshire Post. I will miss them greatly.”

Yorkshire Post Newspapers’ managing director Chris Green said: “During his time in the chair, the newspaper and its journalists have won a host of industry awards. We regret his decision and he will be difficult to replace.”

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