A former Richmond and Twickenham Times journalist working for Associated Press in Africa is believed to be among the 113 dead in an air crash in Cameroon.

The plane crashed shortly after take-off on Saturday in Mbanga Pongo, Cameroon. Four other Britons were believed to be on board.

Anthony Mitchell, (39), started work with the Richmond and Twickenham Times in 1993.

He covered London courts and national news events for the National News agency between 1995 and 1996, before moving on to the Daily Express and then covering East Africa for the wire service Associated Press.

The Richmond and Twickenham Times reported that a statement from his family said they were "devastated”.

His wife Catherine said: "Anthony was a fantastic father, husband and son.

"He was the life and soul of every party with a wonderful dry wit and a great sense of humour. He lived life to the full and died doing the job he loved."

Anthony was in Cameroon reporting on sales of endangered animal meat at markets.

Born in Chertsey, Surrey, he moved to Africa in 2001 with his wife to work and live in Ethiopia, where she was an aid worker. As a freelance there he contributed to AP, The Times, Daily Telegraph, the Guardian and the Independent.