A former freelance photographer who worked at a Yorkshire weekly has died at the age of 72 after a battle with cancer.

Derek Machin, who was known as Del, worked freelance for the Doncaster Free Press from the late 1980s until around 1997, having first entered journalism in his 40s.

He also had his own business taking glamour photos which he carried on for a number of years after leaving the Free Press.

Del died at his home earlier this month after losing his fight with cancer.

Tony Harrison, former Doncaster Free Press sports editor, said he first met Del in the early 1990s and he had become a good friend.

He said: “He quickly became a friend of the family and he used to cover sport for me, thoroughly enjoying covering the Doncaster Panthers basketball at The Dome in Doncaster.

“The last 12 months or so had been very hard for him, as he was undergoing treatment throughout.

“But, in typical Del fashion, he smiled his way through and battled to the end.

“He will be a great loss to his many friends and, I am sure, many of his former colleagues. The business has lost a great character.”

Del’s funeral was held last week in his home town of Thorne.