Tributes have been paid to former newspaper reporter Vicky Annear, who has died aged 47.

She had been suffering from Huntington's Disease and was found dead at her home in Penryn.

Vicky had worked for The West Briton for more than 20 years, joining the company in the 1970s.

After working in Redruth and having run the Falmouth newsdesk for a number of years, she retired for health reasons in 1999.

Max Hodnett, who was editor of The West Briton for much of Vicky's time with the newspaper, said he recognised her abilities right from the start, after she joined the paper straight from school.

He said: "She was an extremely competent journalist and a valuable member of staff. It has been a great shock to all her former colleagues to hear of her premature death."

Barrie Bennetts, who worked with Vicky when she was as a trainee in Redruth, said: "I knew she would go far. She proved most competent and was so full of enthusiasm. It is a sad loss."

Stephen Ivall, news editor for Packet Newspapers, knew Vicky for many years and regularly attended town and parish council meetings with her.

He said: "She was a much-liked and well respected journalist."

West Briton assistant editor Noel Perry, who trained with Vicky in the 1970s and 1980s, also paid tribute.

He said: "Vicky was a wonderful, down to earth person with the sort of enthusiasm for her job that you rarely find today.

"She particularly made her mark in our Falmouth office when she moved there to take over what was, and is, a challenging and rewarding district to cover.

"I missed her when she left the West Briton and I miss her now. My thoughts, and I'm sure of all those on the Briton who knew and worked with Vicky, are with her family and loved ones."

She is survived by her husband, Phil, and son Andy.