How to remove characters only near letters or numbers

Question

I want to remove the characters < only at the letters and numbers, if there are no numbers or letters keep < symbol.

/<  
<apple
<organes
<\

Transform to

    /<  
    apple
    organes
    <\

Answer 1

Find this:

<(?=[a-zA-Z0-9])(.*)

then replace with $1 (this is 'space' followed by '$1').