A regional publisher’s training chief has returned to frontline editing by taking acting charge of a regional daily.

Steve Thompson has confirmed he has become acting editor of the Cambridge News and its Reach plc sister website Cambridgeshire Live.

Steve, pictured, previously edited Newsquest dailies the Bolton News and Lancashire Telegraph before joining Reach in 2021 as its senior editor for training and development.

He takes charge after the departure of Abigail Rabbett, who left Reach last year, while Tom Burnett has also joined as content editor from Berkshire Live and Buckinghamshire Live.

Anna Starnes will become the site’s permanent editor on return from mat leave later this year, while Ruth Ovens was acting editor for the three months before Steve took on the role.

Steve has already launched a new weekly editor’s newsletter and has pledged a “big focus on transport this year” – especially the controversial Cambridge congestion charge – with a new traffic and travel newsletter”.

In a letter to readers, he wrote: “First of all, I want to introduce our revamped daily newsletter – Cambs calling. Each day – morning and evening – we’ll bring you the top six stories in Cambridgeshire. It will be a mix of breaking news, what’s on, crime and court, and local politics.

“We’ll aim to send you a mix every day – something for everyone. But there is one issue that we believe deserves our laser-focused attention – and that is transport. It is a topic which has become increasingly important in Cambridgeshire in recent months.

“Most, if not all, agree that sustainable transport is something to strive for – across the whole region. But there are many dividing lines – not least in Cambridge where the proposed controversial congestion charge has been the focus of fierce debate.

“We will not take sides – but we promise to stand up for our readers and we promise to serve up unrivalled coverage of the debate. We will air your views, we will provide opinions from all sides, and we will present the discussion in new and exciting ways.

“We will also bring you expert analysis on the proposals – and discuss alternative solutions to what is, undoubtedly, a very complex problem.”

Steve added: “We have chosen the name Cambs Calling for our newsletters because, well, firstly, importantly and obviously, they will be all about Cambridgeshire, and, secondly, we hope you will see them like a friend calling by, with all the latest news.”