A freelance Scottish journalist and former sub-editor with the Isle of Wight County Press has been found dead in a bus station.

Joe Owens, 44, was discovered by a cleaner in the early hours of Thursday morning and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

He had attended a hospital on the Isle the day before complaining of pains from a plaster cast which was too tight, reports the County Press.

Mr Owens, who leaves behind a son, was later found asleep by hospital security staff who took the view that he was drunk.

Police drove Mr Owens to Newport Bus Station where he was found dead and an inquest into his death has been opened and adjourned.

He was a former chairman of the National Union of Journalists’ Scottish Council, staffer with the Daily Record and chief reporter of the Highland News and had recently been contributing to industry website allmediascotland.com.