An outspoken journalist who worked for West Midlands newspapers for 62 years has died aged 80.

Harry Tromans reported for The Birmingham Post and Evening Mail, and was chairman of the Midlands Newspaper Press Fund for more than 40 years.

The Black Country-born newspaperman started his career on the defunct The Birmingham Gazette and the Evening Despatch after he left school at 18.

He then became a Black Country reporter for the Birmingham Evening Mail and broke exclusives about the new Merry Hill shopping centre, having cultivated its developers, the Richardson brothers, as his contacts.

He kept readers enthralled with tales about the identity of a World War Two murder victim, Bella, whose body was found hidden in a wych elm tree in Hagley Wood.

His friend and colleague, photographer Gerry Armes, said: “He lived and breathed newspapers and was a reporter through and through.

“He loved the rivalry between newspapers and the excitement of seeing his name in the paper.”

One of his contacts, 75-year-old millionaire property developer Roy Richardson, said Harry reported fairly, accurately and with enthusiasm for the West Midlands.

He said: “He never let the area down. He realised the problems of the Black Country, but he underlined the positives too.”

Harry, who never married or had children, died of cancer at home in Hagley on June 16. He had suffered from the disease for five years.

He is survived by his partner Marlane.

His friends are invited to his funeral at St John’s Church next to Hagley Hall, Hagley, at 1.15pm on June 29.