Respected motoring writer Tom Leake has died, aged 75.

He had been ill for more than a year and died in hospital after suffering liver failure.

The journalist was part of the Leake family, which used to own the Wellington Journal & Shrewsbury News, and after serving in the Merchant Navy he joined the family business.

The family sold the business in the mid-1960s to another family firm, the Claverley Company, which founded the Shropshire Star, and Tom joined the newspaper as its motoring correspondent.

During his career he travelled the world for launches of new cars, and he retired in 1997.

A freeman of Shrewsbury and a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, the British Racing Drivers’ Club and the Guild of Motoring Writers, he leaves a widow, three children and four grandchildren.

His funeral is due to be held on December 23.

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