Tributes have been paid to a deputy sports editor on a Midlands daily who has died at the age of 57.

Derek Waugh first joined the Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph in 1976, having previously worked for the Scottish Daily Express and the Evening Mail in Birmingham among other publications.

In his 33 years on the Johnston Press title, he covered more than 2,000 football matches.

His main role on arriving in the county was to cover Corby Town – something he did for 19 years before switching to coverage of Kettering Town while also carrying out his duties as deputy sports editor.

Derek had been fighting illness for the past year and spent six months in hospital.

Although he had been determined to return to work, it proved to be a battle he could not win and he passed away peacefully at Kettering General Hospital surrounded by his family.

The Evening Telegraph’s sports editor Jim Lyon paid tribute to a “great man and a great friend.”

He said: “Derek was an exceptional journalist and a mentor to me and many others. He knew his trade inside out and got pleasure from seeing the people he shared a desk with developing and learning from his guidance.

“The dedication he showed to the Evening Telegraph is amazing. He gave 33 years of his life to the paper and was devoted to accurate and fair reporting.

“But the thing that will stay with me is his joy for life. The great number of friends he has around the area is testament to the lovely, gentle, generous person he was.”

Added Jim: “It can be said that almost any time spent with him was a happy time. There were a lot laughs – whether it was while sharing a desk or sharing a pint.”

Derek leaves a wife Jean, daughter Kirsty and two young grandchildren, Abbie and Archie.