A former Glasgow journalist who battled cancer for the final year of his life has died aged 70.

Brian Sykes worked for the city’s Evening Times as a sub-editor from 1976 until taking early retirement in 1994.

Prior to this he enjoyed spells with the Daily Mail and Sunday Mail in their Glasgow office, the Daily Express in Manchester and the East African Standard in Kenya, having started out as a copy boy with the Daily Express where his father Bernard was chief photographer.

As well as subbing duties at the Evening Times, Brian helped cover events as a news reporter, property columnist and business editor, reports the Evening Times.

He was also an active member of the National Union of Journalists, representing colleagues as Father of the Chapel.

Brian died at the Marie Curie Hospital, in Edinburgh, and is survived by his partner Jane Horner, children Mandy, Debbie and Steve, and five grandchildren.

His funeral starts at 3.30pm on Monday at Daldowie Crematorium, in Glasgow. Donations instead of flowers are requested to the Marie Curie Centre, in Frogstone Road West, Edinburgh.