Burnley Express journalist Barry Ayrton has died.

The 51-year-old, who had worked at the Express for the past eight years, suffered a heart attack.

Barry was well-known in the town for his weekly Straight Talking column, and had previously worked for the Lancashire Evening Telegraph and the Keighley News.

Burnley Express editor Chris Daggett said: "He was a professional through and through.

"He was a journalist of the old school - a reporter who once he got his teeth into a story wouldn't let go.

"He called a spade a spade and in many ways was an archetypal Yorkshireman - blunt and straight to the point.

"There were no airs and graces about Barry, he said what he thought and wrote what he said.

"Journalism has lost a great character and a true gentleman."