A memorial plaque has been unveiled at Havering council chamber in memory of a council reporter who died earlier this year.

Roy Weal had worked at the Romford Recorder since 1979, and died in March after a long illness.

The plaque was unveiled above the seat where the 51-year-old had spent many hours reporting from the press section of the council chamber.

Editor Mark Sweetingham said: "This tribute is a wonderful gesture and the plaque will be a poignant reminder of Roy's ability as a journalist and his attributes as a person.

"His friends and colleagues miss him greatly."

A bursary scheme to help budding young journalists has also been proposed by Cllr Ray Harris, the Labour leader on Havering Council, who was a close friend of Roy.

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