Mark Payne is a senior news reporter for the Hartlepool Mail and its North East Press sister titles the Sunderland Echo and Shields Gazette.
He joined the company in 2008 and specialises in news stories and features primarily for the Hartlepool Mail's online and print editions.
Subjects and issues Mark covers on a day to basis include human interest stories, local business news, health, council and political issues, court reporting, and campaigns led and supported by the Mail.