A former regional journalist who went on to become a local government communications manager has died after a battle with cancer.

Jeanette Hedley, left, worked for a number of North-East daily and weekly titles during her career including the Morpeth Herald, Sunderland Echo and The Journal, Newcastle.

She then switched to PR as a press officer with Newcastle City Council, moving to neighbouring North Tyneside Council in 2005 where she was senior manager communications and engagement until forced to give up work last year as a result of illness.

Jeanette died in hospital from complications arising from a bone marrow transplant which she underwent to treat the cancer. She was 54.

She began her career at the Northumberland Gazette in Alnwick and later took on reporting responsibility for its fledgling sister title, the Berwick Gazette.

In 1989 she began the first of two spells at the Morpeth Herald, where she was to spend 13 years in all.

She started as chief reporter, returning as deputy editor after a break, and during her time at the title was named North East Weekly Newspaper Journalist of the Year.

Jeanette also spent six months as city centre reporter for the Sunderland Echo and two years with The Journal from 2000-2002.

Former Morpeth Herald Editor Terry Hackett said: “I could not have asked for a more hard-working and loyal deputy than Jeanette. She made a huge contribution to the newspaper and was a great influence on many trainees.

“How she managed to balance being a single mum of two boys with a busy newspaper career and studying for an Open University degree at the same time never ceased to amaze me. Family always came first for her, but she never gave less than 100 percent to the job.”

Jacqueline Laughton, Head of Corporate Strategy at North Tyneside Council, said: “Jeanette was a very valued member of the team at North Tyneside and much respected by her colleagues for her professionalism, dedication and sheer hard work.

“We will all miss her very much and our thoughts are with her family at this extremely difficult time.”

There will be a celebration of Jeanette’s life at West Road Crematorium, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, on Monday, May 16, at 3pm.