A former editor has taken voluntary redundancy from two sister dailies after more than 40 years of service.

Mike Bacon has announced his departure from the East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Star, where he had worked since 1981.

During his time with the newspapers, Mike spent five years as editor of their Green’Un Saturday sports edition.

Beginning his career in 1981 as a compositor before retraining as a journalist, Mike edited the Green’Un from 1997 to 2002 and had been part of the EADT’s sports team since then.

Mike, pictured, told the EADT: “It’s been a real journey and a thrill to be able to have seen and reported on many of the things I have in Suffolk sport.

“Editing the Green’Un was a highlight, at a time when Ipswich Town were heading into the Premier League in 2000.

“Being in the press box at Wembley when Town went up that year and ghost-writing columns in the paper with the likes of Marcus Stewart, Kieron Dyer, Richard Wright, Alex Mathie and Mark Venus.

“I’ve got to know the thriving non-league football scene here in Suffolk well, and made many friends who I still consider friends today.

“More recently, covering Ipswich Witches has been great fun. I really enjoy speedway. To have been able to report on the Witches and Ipswich Town, two clubs I used to stand on the terraces and support as a kid, has been incredible.

“And to get involved in the Kings of Anglia Ipswich Town podcast is something many years ago, I never thought I would be doing.”

Mike’s debut novel ’38 Sleeps’ was published 14 months ago and he is now working on a second.

He added: “I’m looking forward to new opportunities and challenges that will come my way. I’m not putting my feet up, that’s not really me.

“A new book is already two-thirds written and, as I said, we’ll see what opportunities arise.”