A Scottish news and picture agency has added former newsdesk member from national titles the Daily Record and Daily Mirror to its team.

Shaun Milne, also a well-known commentator with his Milne Media blog, will oversee the development of Deadline Press & Picture Agency’s various print and digital services.

His appointment as consultant managing editor has freed up news editor Lauren Crooks to set up and develop a dedicated features service.

Deadline co-director Scott Douglas said: “We were missing a features department and after scouring the market for somebody to take on the role it was clear the ideal candidate was already in our office.

“However, it was also clear Lauren would need a clear run at setting up the service yet robbing Deadline of an excellent news editor to achieve this would have been short-sighted.

“Instead we’ve come up with an innovative and exciting solution to support Laruen while giving every single member of our team working with a media expert of the highest calibre.

“Landing someone with Shaun’s credentials is a real coup. There might be a lot of gloom in the media sector at the moment but this proves categorically we are refusing to let our heads drop.”

Shaun, former Dailt Record associate news editor and Scottish Mirror assistant editor, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to work with one of the most forward thinking agencies of its kind in the UK.

“There is already an excellent young team in place which punches above its weight, as they showed from a splash-filled weekend. I’ve already been impressed by their work ethic.

“I’m also looking forward to working with colleagues across the industry again, some of them old friends and some of them new.”

Based in Edinburgh, Deadline covers the Scottish capital, the Lothians, Fife and Scottish Borders.