A former regional journalist who went on to found his own news agency has died aged 81.

Tributes have been paid to Denis Cassidy, left, who worked at Sheffield daily The Star and also had a career on Fleet Street.

While at The Star, he was notable for helping fellow journalist and future chat show host Michael Parkinson to land a date with Mary, his wife to be.

He later opened the Cassidy and Leigh Agency, in Surrey, with his lifelong friend Don Leigh, and served as president of the National Association of Press Agencies, which he helped to found in 1982.

Denis died peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Sunday 9 April, at Frimley Park Hospital, Surrey.

Former NAPA chairman Chris Johnson said: “Denis was a man of the highest integrity and a consummate professional. He was one of those great journalists who could charm his way out of any tight corner, and win the confidence of people to get the story he was after.

“Witty, entertaining, self-effacing, courageous and loyal, I would have trusted him with my life. I saw him in hospital a couple of weeks ago, and even though he was weak he was laughing and joking to bolster other people’s spirits.

“He was devoted to his family and it was a joy for him to have them around him. I’m proud and privileged to know that he counted me amongst his friends. We shall truly never see his like again.”

Born in Miles Platting, Manchester, in 1935, the son of an optician, Denis began his career on the Irlam Guardian before moving to The Star.

After working in Sheffield, he went to the Empire News broadsheet, in Manchester, and later moved to Sunday Mirror precursor the Sunday Pictorial. He opened Cassidy and Leigh in 1961, two years before he married his Spanish-born wife Maria Isabel in Seville.

Denis later served as senior reporter at the Sunday People, where he covered Czechoslovakia’s ‘Prague Spring Dawn’ in 1968. In 1974 Denis tried his hand at politics and stood for the Liberal Party in a by-election at Daventry, Northamptonshire, and attracted 13,640 votes – more than 21pc of the turnout.

Charles Garside, assistant editor of the Daily Mail, said: “Denis was one of the great characters of Fleet street whose enthusiasm never diminished. I first came across him in 1978 when I became news editor of the London Evening News and ‘Cassidy and Leigh’ were among the most respected and prolific suppliers of copy.

“Later I saw firsthand how Denis used his personality to forge the alliances needed for NAPA to achieve a powerful voice on behalf of the members of the most professional agencies – who are the eyes and ears of the national newspaper industry.

“He worked tirelessly on their behalf to get a better deal for agencies as a whole during turbulent times for the Industry. Denis loved life and, like all successful freelancers, journalism was his life.”

Denis is survived by his sons Paul and Ian, and daughter Raquel.  His funeral will take place at 1pm on Thursday 13 April at Our Lady’s Church, Kings Rd, Fleet, GU51 3ST. Family flowers only, by request.