A journalist has joined a regional daily after a year working for a news agency.

Tom Burgess, pictured, has announced he has joined the Northern Echo as a reporter.

Tom joins the Darlington-based Echo from Bournemouth News and Picture Service, where he has spent the past 12 months.

He joined the agency after training at Cardiff University.

Tom told HTFP: “I’m really excited to start working in the area of the country I come from.

“The Northern Echo is a historic campaigning paper that I can’t wait to work for.

“I gained a lot of valuable experience in Bournemouth working for the national papers.

“Hopefully those skills will help me make a difference for the people of the North-East.”