Tributes have been paid to the former Cannock Advertiser and Walsall Observer editor Barry Gough, who was found dead at New Year after being missing for more than two months.

Barry had also worked as a journalist at the Birmingham Post & Mail and was a freelance writer and public relations executive up until his death, aged 54.

He was found on Cannock Chase and police confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances.

His brother-in-law Derek Davis, a county councillor in Staffordshire, told the Express & Star: “As an editor of a paper you have to work as a team and he held respect with the people he worked with and the community.”

A search had been under way since October 13 when his car was found nearby.

During the initial search for Mr Gough, a police helicopter was used to scour a large area of the chase and a mountain rescue team was called in to help with the operation.

Barry was married with three children.

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