Eastern Daily Press and Evening News editors leave

Two Norfolk newspaper editors have left their roles with "immediate effect" and been replaced with a single editor-in-chief, publisher Archant said.

Eastern Daily Press editor Peter Waters "decided to leave Archant" and Tim Williams, Evening News editor, is taking a post as development editor.

Both had been in their roles for three years.

Nigel Pickover, Ipswich Star editor since 1996, will run the EDP, Evening News and weekly titles.

East Anglian Daily Times editor of 17 years, Terry Hunt, will also become editor-in-chief of the Ipswich Star and weekly titles.

Speaking of his appointment, Mr Pickover said it was "entirely right in the climate to look at every part of our resource, and to have one senior editorial figure".

He described the EDP editorship - he is the 13th editor in its 142-year history - as "the biggest job that there is in the regional press".

Asked if it was a cost-cutting measure, he said: "There's common sense in having one senior figure."

He would not be drawn on Mr Waters' departure, and said he had "gone for his own reasons to do his own stuff".

Mr Waters had worked at the EDP for several years, during two stints with the company, and Mr Williams joined the Evening News as assistant editor in 2001.

Johnny Hustler, managing director of Archant Anglia, said: "The appointment of Nigel and Terry to these new roles is a very significant move for our business."

He added: "It is sad that Peter Waters is leaving us and we are thankful for the important work that he has done."