Staff at the Gloucestershire Echo are mourning the death of a woman who was a key figure in the newsroom – tea lady Lil Roberts.

Editor Anita Syvret was among mourners at yesterday’s funeral service at Cheltenham for Mrs Roberts, who died of lung cancer at the age of 69.

Mrs Roberts joined the Echo in 1988 and “did a fantastic job of serving up tea and toast for eight years”, the paper said.

Ms Syvret called her one of the best members of staff she had had the privilege to work with.

She said: “Lil not only took her job seriously, she was also incredibly kind and thoughtful to every member of staff.

“She changed the atmosphere of the entire newsroom and we were very sad when her illness meant she had to leave.”

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