A former chief news editor of the Press Association, Noel Richley, died yesterday aged 96.

He joined the PA in London in 1947 from the Daily Herald in Manchester and had one of his first jobs in journalism on the Bury Times in Lancashire near his birthplace, Bamford, near Rochdale.

He then worked on the Daily Mirror in Manchester before joining the Daily Herald, from where he joined the Royal Navy for five years during the Second World War.

After demobilisation, he returned to the Herald before moving to London after his marriage to join the PA.

He spent five years as naval correspondent before joining the news desk and rising to chief news editor until his retirement in 1975.

He had a long interest in the work of the Newspaper Press Fund, and was the fund’s treasurer until the age of 94. He was honoured with an MBE for his services to the NPF.

He leaves his widow, Ursula (Sue), and one son and two daughters.