A former regional daily receptionist known as the “face” of the newspaper has died aged 66.

Journalists have paid tribute to Joyce Auty, left, who worked for the Shields Gazette between 1966 and 2014.

Joyce, a mum to Andrew, 32, was the first port of call to those visiting the Gazette’s office in Chapter Row, and later Beach Road, South Shields.

She started out as an office junior and filled a number of posts at the newspaper over the years, including completing photographic orders and working in ‘paste up’, laying out pages for publication in the pre-digital era, before moving into the receptionist role in the 1990s.

Former Gazette journalist Janis Blower said: “I knew and worked with Joyce for nearly 45 years, and could not have wished for a better friend and colleague.

“She cared passionately about the Gazette and its readers, to whom, over the front counter, she generously extended help, advice and support, sometimes at sensitive and difficult times in their lives. It says a great deal about her that some of them themselves became friends over the years.

“She extended the same generosity of spirit to those she knew and worked with, and I will miss her deeply.”

Gazette editor Joy Yates said: “Joyce’s death has caused a great deal of sorrow at the Gazette. I worked with Joyce for many years and she was, very often, the first person anyone met when they arrived at the Gazette office.

“Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this sad time.”