A HONLEY-BORN woman is thought to be the first woman to edit a national agricultural newspaper.

Elisabeth Falkingham, 31, has taken over the job at Farmers' Guardian, after being features editor.

The Preston-based title sells about 55,000 copies a week.

Miss Falkingham joined Farmers' Guardian as a reporter eight years ago, after achieving a first-class honours degree in agriculture and animal sciences from Harper Adams University College, Shropshire.

She worked on general news and pig and poultry coverage before becoming a features writer.

She became features editor in 1998.

Miss Falkingham said of her new job:

"I feel very privileged and honoured to be the first woman to edit a title of this kind."

She is a farmer's daughter and was raised with her two sisters on a 170-acre dairy farm in Honley.

Her cousin still runs the farm, which has a 160-strong herd.

She was educated at Wakefield Girls' High School and New College, Huddersfield.

Miss Falkingham, who has an 18-month- old son, is a keen horsewoman and is interested in field sports.

Her hobby is cat breeding, specialising in Burmese and Asians.