A West Midlands photographer who worked for a selection of regional newspaper titles has died following a lengthy illness.

Eddie Bissell, who had more than 40 years of photography experience, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2006 and died at home in Derbyshire.

He moved there in 1980 after a long career in the West Midlands working as press photographer at the Walsall Observer, Rugeley Times, Staffordshire Newsletter and then picture editor for the Birmingham Post.

After his move to Derbyshire, where he met his wife Maureen, he started a second career as a higher education lecturer.

He set up a photo-journalism course at Richmond College in Sheffield while also working at the Derbyshire Times. He also taught journalists in India, East and West Africa and Thailand and was a lecturer in the Press Division of The Thomson Foundation.

Eddie later became a senior lecturer in Media, Journalism and Cultural Studies at Staffordshire University, and also worked for a time at Derby University.

He was also a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain and an Associate of the British Institute of Professional Photography.

His death from a brain tumour at the age of 66 brought to a close an established career as a both a talented and respected lensman and lecturer.