THE Lancashire Telegraph has appointed a new editor.

Steven Thompson has joined the newspaper becoming the LT’s first dedicated editor for two years and only the 13th full time editor in the Telegraph's 130-year history.

He takes over from group editor Ian Savage, who has responsibility for a number of papers in the North West including the LT’s sister title The Bolton News.

The Telegraph's last full time editor Kevin Young left the newspaper in 2015.

Steven, aged 37, said: "I’m delighted to be taking on this hugely important job. The Lancashire Telegraph is a great daily paper with a proud tradition and as a proud northern lad myself I’m over the moon to be asked to edit the title."

The Lancashire Telegraph has been an integral part of life in East Lancashire since 1886 — the first edition rolled off the press on October 26.

Originally known as the Northern Daily Telegraph, the paper was founded by Thomas Purvis Ritzma, a young newspaper manager from Middlesborough who on finding himself unable to buy an evening newspaper at Blackburn railway station decided to set up his own title.

He remained at the helm of the Telegraph for 52 years before his death in 1938, aged 85.

The newspaper has had several name changes over the years. It became the Evening Telegraph in 1956 and then Lancashire was added to the masthead in 1963. In 1991 it changed from broadsheet to compact and in 2006 and now a morning paper it became the Lancashire Telegraph.

The Telegraph has always been based at the heart of the community it serves, originally operating out of two shops in Railway Road in Blackburn before moving to larger premises where the Morrison's supermarket now stands.

Purpose-built premises on High Street were opened in 1982 and earlier this year the Telegraph moved to its current home in Church Street.

The Telegraph was one of the first newspapers in the country to embrace the internet and now its website and social media pages have become an essential source of news and sport for the region.

For six days a week, two editions — one serving Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley and the other Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale — are produced by a dedicated team who are committed to ensuring the Telegraph's place at the heart of life in East Lancashire.

Steven added: "Local newspapers and our websites are more important then ever before and our aim — as it has always been — will be to inform and entertain, hold the powerful to account, and fight our readers' corner, not forgetting our unrivalled coverage of all our local sports teams.

"We have a great team here and I'm looking forward to working with them."

Harry Catherall, chief executive of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “This is great news for the Lancashire Telegraph and we as a council would like to offer Steven our congratulations and a very warm welcome.

"The Telegraph is a local institution and shares with the council a proud history in the borough and I am sure Steven and his team will continue to build on this.

“We look forward to working with the new editor and promoting the very best that Blackburn with Darwen has to offer.”

Cllr Mark Townsend, leader of Burnley Council, said: “Local newspapers are an integral part of our communities and I welcome the fact that the Lancashire Telegraph has a new editor who, I’m sure, will continue to deliver news and information to the people of Burnley and across East Lancashire.”