Kent-based press agency Ferrari is expanding into Sussex and has launched a court reporting service in Maidstone.
The agency has poached Fay Millar from The Argus, Brighton, to become its Sussex news correspondent, working with staff photographer Andy Cloke, another former Argus man.
Agency co-owner Adam Gillham said: “We found increasingly we were crossing the borders of Kent into both counties and it became a natural step to specialise in Sussex. We are aware of the existence of other agencies but feel there is room for competition.”
Two of Ferrari’s reporters, James Tapper and John Bynorth, have left to join The Mail on Sunday. They have been replaced by Justin Penrose, formerly of the Press Association, and Richard White, who worked for a smaller agency in Kent.
Meanwhile, Ferrari has launched a full-time reporting service at Maidstone Crown Court to serve the demands of local newspapers in Kent, as well as its existing regular supply of court stories to the national press.
The service replaces Kent Court Reporting Agency, which closed last year with the loss of four jobs.
A contract has already been signed with Trinity Mirror’s Kent Regional Newspapers group for this service.
From 1 March the agency will have a resident full-time reporter based at Maidstone Crown Court. Former Kent Court Reporting Agency staffer Ann Price is expected to take up the post.
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