A regional daily editor has stepped down to take on a new role leading 10 titles in her native Canada.

Wendy Metcalfe, left, has been editor of Scottish daily the Greenock Telegraph for three years, although she has been on maternity leave since last autumn.

She will start a role at Sun Media in four weeks, where she will be regional managing editor for three dailies and seven weekly papers in the Niagara region of Canada, which includes having a more hands-on role at daily title The Standard.

Wendy started out as a reporter at the Lincolnshire Echo, then moved on to work at the Daily Record’s newsdesk and Aberdeen’s Evening Express, where she was assistant editor, before taking the helm at the Greenock Telegraph.

She has been in the UK for 13 years because her husband was in the air force until recently retiring from service and her parents and other family members remain in Canada.

Wendy said: “It is a major challenge and I have got big shoes to fill. The current managing editor is retiring in the near future.

“I’m thrilled at the prospect. I know there’s a dedicated readership but I’m hoping to build on that.

“With the sort of campaigning we did at the Greenock Telegraph, I would hope to bring that with me, to work for change and fight for what we believe in.”

The Telegraph won the Campaigning Newspaper of the Year title at the Scottish Press Awards last year for its Stop Knives, Save Lives drive.

A further campaign to prevent the closure of a tea bar at the Inverclyde Royal Hospital saw the paper shortlisted for the same award this year and also saw it nominated for the Regional Press Awards, which take place next month.