It's all change at the Packet as after two years in charge editor Steve Smith has put down his notepad for the last time and left for pastures new.

Being promoted to the new role of head of content is audience and content editor Emma Ferguson, who joined the newspaper in its Falmouth head office as a trainee reporter, aged 19, back in 2004.

For the last 16 years she has worked her way up through the ranks as chief reporter and then news editor, before stepping back to a part-time reporting role following the birth of her daughter in 2015.

In April this year she returned full time to become audience and content editor, helping oversee the development of the website to a position where it now receives more than million article views each month.

Now, following Steve's departure, she has responsibility for the print editions also, as head of content, in what is believed to be the first time in the Packet's 165-year history that a woman has been at the helm of the newspaper.

Emma, who grew up and went to school in the Helston and Lizard area, where she still lives, said: "I'm honoured to be taking on this new role at the Packet - a place where I have spent my entire career to date. Many of our readers and contacts in the community feel more like friends, as they are people I have been working with since I began.

"It's a privilege to take over from Steve, who has spent the last two years growing the newspaper into what it is today and cementing its position in the community, as well as being the driving force behind the transformation of the Packet website.

"I am committed to upholding the Packet's strong core values of bringing trusted, impartial news coverage to Cornwall, which has always been my home.

"What's more, there are further exciting changes in the pipeline that mean we will be bringing you even more news that matters to you, right from the heart of the communities that we serve.

"There has never been a more difficult time for the newspaper industry, like so many others, but with your continued support we will weather this storm together and we look forward to representing you, our readers, in all that we do."