Former Stoke Sentinel sports editor Peter Buxton has died, aged 80.

He worked at the paper for 37 years and was head of sport for 27 of them.

He began his journalism career at the old City Times, and following wartime service in the Royal Navy, he joined The Sentinel.

Working his way through the newsroom ranks, Peter became deputy sports editor, before being promoted to sports editor in 1960.

His work brought him into contact with many famous sportsmen, including Sir Stanley Matthews, who he was proud to consider a close friend, and he ghosted the biography of former world snooker champion Ray Reardon.

He also served on Stoke-on-Trent's sports advisory council and was a Justice of the Peace for 25 years, becoming chairman of the bench in his last year.

He was awarded the MBE in 1986.

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