Yorkshire reporter Hilary Sanders has died following a long illness, aged 57.

She had worked for York & County Press for four years, and covered the Ryedale district for the weekly Gazette & Herald.

Her stories also appeared in the York Evening Press.

In addition to her reporting skills, Hilary was also a skilled photographer, with her photos often appearing in the paper, and she wrote poetry which appeared in the Gazette & Herald under a pen name.

Before joining York & County Press Hilary had enjoyed a long career as a freelance and magazine writer and editor.

Gazette & Herald editor Bob McMillan said: "Hilary made an enormous contribution to our paper.

"She was a tenacious, intelligent and hard-working reporter.

"But more importantly, to those of us on the Gazette, she was a dear friend who will be greatly missed."

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