Former Leigh Journal editor Fred Pinder has died.

The retired journalist had last month suffered a heart attack, but had appeared to be recovering well. He was 85.

Fred was appointed editor of the Journal in 1956 after progressing through the editorial ranks of its sister paper, the Bolton Evening News.

And after more than 25 years in the editor's chair he was appointed general manager, a post he held until retirement more than 20 years ago.

Current Journal editor Mike Hulme and news editor Brian Gomm were both taken on by Fred.

Brian said: "Fred was a typical old school journalist. He was a stickler for accuracy and very economical.

"But he always remembered his staff, and we would each get a little gift at Christmas.

"He was very much a public figure and the paper was a success story during his reign as editor."

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