One of Kent's best-known and respected newspaper photographers, Ray Christopher, has died following a short illness. He was 70.

Ray became well-known throughout the Medway towns during his long career with the Chatham News and its sister newspaper, the Standard.

His exuberant personality and endless stock of jokes helped to win him many friends during more than three decades with the two papers.

His abilities were perhaps best described by Gerald Hinks who was Ray's editor for a quarter of a century.

He said of him when he retired: "Ray's extraordinary talent is being able to conjure up a memorable picture from the most mundane engagement. He is incapable of taking a boring picture."

After he left the Medway area in 1997, Ray and his wife, Liz, moved to Birchington to enjoy their retirement but he continued as a freelance photographer for several years. He died in hospital after suffering a series of strokes.

John White, an assistant editor with the Kent Messenger Group, said: "I had the pleasure of working with Ray in my days as a junior reporter on the Chatham News. He was a consummate professional.

"He didn't just take excellent photographs. He had an enquiring mind too. If you covered an assignment with Ray you knew he would always ask the vital question you'd forgotten to ask or hadn't thought of asking.

"With Ray, you felt you were working as part of a team.

"In addition, he presented a pleasing personality and had a fund of witty stories. He was a fun man to be around."

Ray and his first wife, Doreen, had a son, Andrew, and daughter, Susan, and four grandchildren. He also leaves a stepdaughter, Liz's daughter, Kim.