A journalist who spent 30 years with a North-West daily newspaper has died at the age of 83.

Former Liverpool Daily Post journalist Don Sutton died peacefully at home on Friday from pancreatic cancer.

Don, who spent nearly 30 years working on the Post as a sub-editor and features editor, started his journalistic career started at the Hoylake and West Kirby Advertiser in 1944.

After a two-year break for national service, he moved to Rochester and worked as a sub-editor on the Chatham News before returning to the Wirral with his to begin work on the Post and Echo.

Writer Gordon Morris said: “We will remember Don Sutton for the human and professional qualities he possessed: warmth in his relationships with colleagues and his absolute integrity and adherence to the best journalistic principles.”

His daughter Margie Plumb told the Post: “He loved his time on the Post and Echo. I think what we’ll miss the most is his dry sense of humour. He was joking up until he died.”

Merseyside National Union of Journalists branch chair Mike Studley said: “Don was a committed trade unionist and an inspiration to us youngsters who were following in his footsteps.

“As well as his chapel activities, he was a driving force in the Liverpool branch and at national level with his service on the National Executive Council, the Provincial Newspapers Industrial Council and the National Council for the Training of Journalists. He will be greatly missed.”

Don was passionate about music and was a chorister for 60 years at St Johns in Meols, Waltham Abbey in Essex and Holy Cross in Woodchurch. He also performed with an am-dram entertainment group The Woodlarks.

It was at a drama group where Don met his wife-to-be Margaret and they married on February 14, 1953.

He had four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and a sister Muriel and nephew Bruce.

His funeral will held at Holy Cross in Woodchurch, on Friday 30 December at 11am.