Former regional newspaper editor Tom Hoy has become one of the oldest students in the country to gain both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts degree.

The 82-year-old, who edited the Gloucestershire Echo from 1977 to 1983, has just completed a post-graduate course in historical research at Hull University.

He had already got his Bachelor of Arts honours degree in cultural and social studies with religious studies, and overcame cancer to scoop his latest academic honour.

He had to break off his studies to spend five months in hospital with mouth cancer, where his treatment involved the removal of half of his lower jaw.

At around the same time he also broke his leg and later suffered two heart attacks, and he also suffers from arthritis, diabetes and angina.

Tom said: "The only thing that seems to be working properly is my old brain.

"I'm quite chuffed at my age to get through."

Before becoming editor of the Echo, Tom had been assistant editor at the Hull Daily Mail.

He also previously edited the North and South Humberside Times for 16 years.