Belfast-based weekly Sunday Life has appointed its youngest-ever editor.

Martin Breen, 32, steps up to the role after working as acting editor since the retirement of Jim Flanagan in February.

Martin is a former reporter with the News of the World and has appointed David O’Dornan from the Irish News of the World as his new associate editor.

He is the title’s fourth editor in just over two decades and has been with Independent News and Media on and off since joining Sunday Life’s sister daily the Belfast Telegraph as a trainee in 1998.

In April last year he won scoop of the year at the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Awards for his exposé of a police chief’s secret love child.

He has also spearheaded an awards scheme celebrating local heroes and overseen a redesign of Sunday Life.

Martin told HTFP: “We’ve brought in a new design team. We’ve upped the content so have more news and features pages now.

“The design is brighter and breezier and I’ve also brought in a few new members of staff.

“Essentially, I want to build a brand and up the profile to be the paper that the people of Northern Ireland turn to every Sunday.”