A court reporter has left a regional daily to take up a top sportsdesk job with a national title.

Neil Docking has said farewell to the Liverpool Echo after eight-and-a-half years to become associate sports editor on its Reach plc sister title the Daily Star.

Neil, pictured, had covered Liverpool Crown Court for the Echo after joining as a senior reporter in 2014.

He took up his new post last month.

Posting on Twitter, Neil said he was “sad to leave the Liverpool Echo but can’t wait for a new challenge”.

He has been replaced at the Echo by Adam Everett, who was previously chief reporter at the Warrington Guardian.

Neil also formerly held the chief reporter role at the Guardian, where he began his career in 2005.

He subsequently served as health reporter at the Lancashire Telegraph from 2009 to 2012, then spent two years with the Lancashire Evening Post before joining the Echo.

Adam began his new job on 30 June.

Prior to his move, he wrote on Twitter: “It will be a wrench to leave a job I’ve loved at my hometown paper, but the opportunity of such a brilliant gig at one of the country’s leading daily newspapers was too great to pass up.

“I’m looking forward to getting started in succeeding the legendary Neil Docking.

“Most importantly, a huge thank you to each and every colleague who I’ve worked with – as well as to anyone who I’ve mithered for a story – over the past few years.”

Adam went on to thank Guardian editor Hayley Smith and deputy editor Gareth Dunning “for their support and guidance over the years, and for giving me my first job in journalism”.

He wrote: “I’ve no doubt the Guardian will continue to go from strength to strength in their hands.”