THE Border Telegraph has a new man at the helm.

As deputy regional editor for Lothian and the Borders, Stuart Laundy will oversee production of the Border Telegraph and Peeblesshire News.

The 44-year-old is no stranger to the Borders - he is a previous editor of the Berwickshire News and Berwick Advertiser.

A journalist with 25 years experience, Stuart has also enjoyed stints at The Orcadian, in Orkney, and with The Oban Times Group on the west coast and joins the Border Telegraph after a short appintment with Northeast Press, based at the Sunderland Echo, where he was part of an ongoing internet video pilot project.

"I am delighted to be back in the Borders," said Stuart. "I really enjoyed my time in Berwick and I am looking forward to getting to know a lot more about this part of the area.

"Local newspapers continue to play an integral part in the life of the communities they serve and I am looking to build on the relationship the Border Telegraph has developed with its readers - both in print and online through its extremely popular website.

"It is well known that the local newspaper industry is going through a period of great change and it is an exciting time to be part of that change."

Also joining Stuart at the Border Telegraph is multi-media journalist Coral Condeco. Coral, 20, joins straight from Napier University where she has just completed a BA (Hons) in Journalism.

They complement the existing team of news editor David Knox and senior reporter Ally McGilvray.

Stuart said: "We have an excellent and enthusiastic team in place which I hope will take the Border Telegraph from strength to strength."

Stuart can be contacted by email: slaundy@bordertelegraph.com; phone: 01896 758469 or on Twitter @stuartlaundy