The Craven Herald & Pioneer has a new editor.

Andrew Hitchon, 51, was born and bred in Craven and comes from a Dales farming family.

After studying at Ermysted’s Grammar School, Skipton, and Merton College, Oxford, he began his journalistic career on the Craven Herald in 1984.

He left four years later to set up an office in Skipton for the Yorkshire Post, before moving to its Bradford office.

He took a break from journalism from 1995 to 1998 to help run his family farm in Littondale, returning as a reporter on the Gazette & Herald in Malton.

Andrew moved to The Press, in York, shortly afterwards and worked as reporter, health reporter, assistant news editor and then deputy news editor before becoming a senior sub-editor.

Andrew, who took up his new post this week, said: “It’s wonderful to be returning to such a great part of the world and one which is so close to my heart.

“I’m looking forward to getting out and about and meeting people in our many communities, to hear about the issues which are really affecting them.

“The Craven Herald is a fabulous newspaper with a long and proud history and a great team. It’s a real privilege to be chosen as its new custodian and I will do my best to honour that tradition.”

Perry Austin-Clarke, group editor at Newsquest (Bradford), the Herald’s parent company, said: “As a real local lad, Andrew has a unique insight into what makes Skipton, the Craven district and the Dales so special and I’m sure he will do a fine job of reflecting that in this special newspaper.”

Andrew replaces Matt Cornish who has left to pursue new opportunities.