Irish News editor Noel Doran is preparing to step down after 25 years in post.

Doran is believed to be the current longest-serving daily newspaper editor in the UK and Ireland. Before him, that title would have gone to ex-Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre who served for 26 years.

Doran has overseen the production of more than 7,000 editions of the Belfast-based paper and will continue to have a “close association” with it, according to a statement.