A former journalist and broadcaster who set up a local news agency has died at the age of 82.

John Myatt ran the Great Yarmouth Press Agency in the Norfolk town and he helped set up the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Advertiser newspaper.

During his career, he also worked as head of news at Anglia TV and as a sports editor and football commentator with BBC Look East.

Tributes have been paid after John died in hospital just three days before his 83rd birthday on Christmas Day.

BBC Norfolk managing editor David Clayton, who worked in broadcasting with him, told the Eastern Daily Press: “I always found him a lovely man to work with, very experienced and a great professional.”

Tony Mallion, a former BBC Radio Norfolk presenter and Great Yarmouth Mercury reporter, said: “This really is the passing of an era.

“John’s career is a long and outstanding one and I’ve had the privilege of knowing and working with him on an off for so many years.”

John was born in Staffordshire and began his career in local newspapers, before he moved to Norfolk after meeting his late wife Janet.

He then became a news editor at Anglia TV before later setting up the Great Yarmouth Press Agency, with photographer Bryan Colton and another journalist John Anderson.

The agency covered stories including the growth of the oil and gas industry and reported on the stars who spent summer seasons in the resort.

At the same time, John was in demand as a freelance broadcaster with BBC East, working as a reporter and presenter on magazine programme Roundabout East Anglia.

He also worked as a sports editor with Look East, producing and presenting sports bulletins twice a week, as well as covering matches.

John became increasingly involved with public relations work later in his career, promoting tourism and industry in the area.

He was being cared for at Northgate Hospital in Great Yarmouth but threatened flooding led to him being transfered to Southwold Hospital, where he died on Sunday.

John leaves daughter Lucy and son Peter.