A popular former regional journalist who won a major international award has died, aged 81.

Brian Edwards worked in the North East for 30 years, joining The Northern Echo in 1967, where he worked as a sub-editor until 1972.

He then took up a post at the Evening Gazette in Middlesbrough, remaining there until he retired in 1997.

Brian, of Newton Aycliffe, formerly worked in Sri Lanka, where he posed as an inmate at the Mental Hospital-Angoda during the early 1960s.

On one occasion he had to escape over a wall to write of the physical and sexual abuse he witnessed.

The resulting story led to a government inquiry into the provision of mental health care and earned Brian the Asian Journalist of the Year Award.

Shortly after this, Brian emigrated with his family and became a popular member of the Newton Aycliffe community.

His son, Cliff Edwards, 49, also a former Echo journalist, said: “Dad was a passionate, campaigning journalist in his day and a good, loyal friend to many.

“He chose the North East for the family to settle in because he felt it had a sense of community. He chose Newton Aycliffe because he felt it was a secure and safe environment.

“He was very proud of his association with the Echo and enjoyed the camaraderie of journalists.

“After putting the paper to bed in the early hours in those days, he and his pals would get into what is now Hogan’s bar by presenting a few copies of the paper literally hot off the Priestgate press.”

Outside of work, Brian was a caring family man who enjoyed cricket and socialising with his friends at Newton Aycliffe Royal Air Forces Association club.

He also attended St Mary’s Church at least once a week.

Brian died peacefully in Darlington Memorial Hospital.His funeral will take place at St Mary’s Church at 11am on Friday, April 25, prior to burial at West Cemetery in School Aycliffe.

He had contracted a chest complaint associated with Parkinson Disease, from which he had quietly suffered for many years.

Brian leaves his wife, Heather, daughter, Tania, sons, Cliff, Chris and David, and nine grandchildren.