A former local press journalist who cycled around his patch to jobs has died after losing his battle with cancer, aged 71.

Originally from Newton-le-Willows in Lancashire, Gordon Brown started his journalism career with the Warrington Guardian before re-locating to Cumbria.

Gordon lived in Whitehaven and was also a life member of the National Union of Journalists.

In the early 1980s he joined the Whitehaven News as a sports and news reporter.

But he soon became equally well-known in the area for all his hobbies such as bowling, table tennis, rambling and cycling.

Whitehaven News reporter Alan Irving said: "He was like one of the old-time district reporters who used to cycle around the area.

"It was one of his many passions along with rambling and walking.

"He used to get to most of his jobs by cycling and even put his bike on the train to go to Carlisle to cover Carlisle FC.

"Gordon was well-known not just for his journalism but also being a local character. He was quirky, a real one-off."

An Everton FC supporter, Gordon was a fanatical football fan and one of his proudest boasts was that he had visited every football ground in the country.

For the News he covered all the Workington Reds AFC and Whitehaven RLFC games as well as many grass roots football and rugby matches.

He left the paper 15 years ago to take up freelance work, writing for the Press Association and Cycling News as well as local radio and TV.

Dave Siddall, news editor and Father of NUJ Chapel, said: "Gordon was a character, once met never forgotten.

"He gave the sort of detailed local coverage that the readers loved. Gossip and tittle tattle some call it, but it is what the community wants to read."