A former editor of the Burnley Express and the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times has died following a short illness.

Raymond Mann, (80), became the editor at Clitheroe in 1970, overseeing both an increase in its print circulation from 7,500 copies a week to 9,000 and its advancement into offset printing.

Best remembered for his ‘old school’ approach to journalism, his association with the Burnley Express was also a significant success, culminating in his appointment as editor of the paper in 1986.

His career in regional journalism began in 1944 as a junior reporter at the Burnley Express. By 1970 he had moved from being a chief reporter on specialist issues such as local government, to the role of deputy editor.

The deputy editor position was short-lived as a result of being offered the editor’s post at the Clitheroe Advertiser in 1970.

His editorship there lasted 16 years until 1986, when he returned to the Burnley Express as editor until his early retirement in 1988.

A keen football fan, Raymond also oversaw the editorship of Claret and Blue, a matchday magazine for Burnley FC.

He became chairman of the North West Region of the Guild of British Newspaper Editors in 1984, and in retirement kept up his interest in writing by helping to produce a number of community publications including his parish magazine.