An inquest into the death of former Mid Devon Gazette Series editor Mary-Ann Bloomfield has been opened and adjourned.

The 57-year-old is believed to have died in her sleep on April 26, but a post mortem examination was unable to ascertain the cause and so further tests must be carried out.

An inquest date is yet to be fixed.

Her funeral will be held on Friday, May 12, at 10am at the Church of St John the Evangelist and St Petroc, Devoran, near Truro.

This will be followed by a reception at the Alverton Manor Hotel, Truro.

All are welcome and, in a living will, Mary-Ann requested that those attending should feel free to wear informal and bright clothing.

She also requested informal floral tributes, specifically white freesias and sweet peas.

Any monetary donations should be given to the Tiverton and District Hospital. Cheques should be made payable to Tiverton and District Hospital and sent to Morley Penrose Funeral Directors, Greenbank Road, Devoran, Truro, TR3 6PQ, for forwarding on to the hospital, where a fund exists for nurses’ welfare.

Mary-Ann had enjoyed a 40-year career in newspapers, working on titles such as the Solihull News, the Birmingham Post and the Evesham Journal Series, before becoming deputy editor of the North Devon Journal and Mid Devon Gazette Series.

In 2003 she became editor of the Mid Devon Gazette Series, and in January this year was promoted to the role of commercial editor with Cornwall and Devon Media Ltd where she oversaw the editing of the company’s series of magazines, together with all its property and motoring editorial content.