An editor responsible for two regional dailies and associated weeklies has announced her departure from their publisher.

Vanessa Sims has stepped down from her role as regional group editor for Newsquest Cumbria, where she oversaw titles including the Carlisle News & Star and South Cumbria daily The Mail.

Vanessa, pictured, was appointed editor of The Mail in 2018 and took on the group-wide brief the following year.

It was announced in February last year she would be going on maternity leave, with former JPIMedia North-East editorial director Joy Yates joining Newsquest to take charge of its North Cumbria titles in her absence. Tom Murphy was appointed to the equivalent interim role in South Cumbria.

Other titles in Newsquest’s Cumbria portfolio include the Cumberland News, Westmorland Gazette, Whitehaven News, Workington Times & Star and the Northumberland-based Hexham Courant.

Vanessa announced her departure from the group on New Year’s Day.

Posting on Twitter, she wrote: “After five fab years at the helm of Newsquest Cumbria’s editorial teams I am sad to announce I have left in pursuit of new adventures.

“I have had the privilege to work with some brilliantly talented colleagues and I wish every one of them continued success. Happy New Year all.”

Vanessa began her career at the Accrington Observer in 2007 and later moved to the Lancashire Telegraph, where she was crime reporter.

She spent seven months at Blackpool daily The Gazette, before returning to the Telegraph as deputy news editor in 2014.

Vanessa later became news editor there before moving to The Mail in February 2018, where she was initially associate editor before taking up the top job.

HTFP has approached both Newsquest and Vanessa for further comment.