A former Lancashire local reporter and pillar of the community has died aged 79.

Myra Tullis, formerly Myra Hocking, was a journalist with the Leyland Guardian for over 15 years during the 1950s, 60s and 70s covering local events – many involving her husband Les who was a councillor and former mayor.

Her daughter Owyn said: "It was the norm at family meals for them both to be sat looking at their papers for forthcoming meetings that they were both going to attend – dad to make speeches, mum to report on what went on."

Those experiences led Olwyn herself to take up journalism and embark on a career with the BBC.

Myra interviewed many North West stars including Coronation Street actress Pat Phoenix, who played Elsie Tanner, Peter Noone from Herman's Hermits and Lord Donald Stokes who ran Leyland Motors during the difficult years.

One of Myra's biggest stories was when she secured a rare interview with local builder Trevor Hemmings who went on to become one of Britain's richest men.

His first, and for several years, only interview was with Myra and he later became a sponsor of a local jazz festival she helped to organise.

After she and her husband divorced in the 1970s, Myra move to Preston, the Isle of Wight, Barron-in-Furness and eventually settled in Gateshead.

She died at Gateshead's Queen Elizabeth Hospital from an infection and is survived by her daughters Olwyn and Pauline, and four grandchildren.