An editor has returned to journalism after a 10-year break to run a title in his hometown.

Ken Bird has been unveiled as the new editor of Somerset-based news website Around Wellington.

Ken, pictured, served as editor-in-chief of the Somerset County Gazette until December 2011, when he left his role to take up a new career in public relations.

His new job marks a return to the patch where he started his career in 1976 on the Wellington Weekly News, aged 16.

Ken said: “I was proud to be asked to take over Around Wellington by Keith Wheatley, another experienced journo, to build on the great work he has put in over the past nine years.

“Wellington has been my home for more than half a century and I’m really enjoying promoting its fantastic community spirit.”

After working on the Weekly News, Ken moved to the Taunton-based County Gazette in 1980.

He remained with the company for more than 30 years, the final 10 of which were as editor-in-chief of the Gazette and its Newsquest sister titles in Somerset.

For the past decade, he has worked in communications at independent schools – firstly Taunton School and then Queen’s College, Taunton.