A 55-year-old man has admitted causing the death of a former weekly newspaper editor who died after his car was struck by a lorry.

John Connor, a former editor of the Solihull News who went on to become a prominent motoring journalist, was killed in the collision which happened on the M4 in Berkshire in January this year.

Lorry driver Anthony Rourke, of Mill Close, Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving in a hearing at Reading Crown Court earlier this month on June 2.

John, pictured, was thought to have been returning home from covering a car launch event in Spain when the accident took place.

He was driving his Nissan Qashqai between junctions 5 and 4b of the M4 in Berkshire when his vehicle was struck from behind by a lorry being driven by Rourke.

John, who was 75, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Following an investigation by Thames Valley Police Road Death Investigation Unit, Rourke was charged with causing death by careless driving.

Sentencing has been adjourned until 11 July and Rourke has been bailed until then.

After leaving the Solihull News, John went on to become a freelance journalist, specialising in pre-launch test drives for various UK titles, including a number of Trinity Mirror newspapers.

A member of the Midland Group of Motoring Writers, where he was the membership secretary, he had also worked as an editor for a motoring industry newspaper and magazine.