A former regional press journalist who went on to become an executive director at Mirror Group Newspapers has died at the age of 80.

George Jenkins started his journalism career at the age of 16 at the Burnley office of the Northern Daily Telegraph, the forerunner to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

After leaving the paper, he moved to the Manchester office of the former Daily Dispatch and also spent time at the Daily Herald before securing a post with the Daily Mirror.

George, who lived in Essex, died earlier this month and his funeral was held on Monday.

Keith Fort, a former assistant editor of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, said: “He gave me a lot of help in my job, taking young journalists under his wing and giving them encouragement.

“He was a tremendous guy, and really good to know.”

George started as a sub-editor at the Mirror, later becoming chief sub, and went on to hold a number of positions, including features editor, technical editor and latterly executive director under the infamous Robert Maxwell.

He was also heavily involved in the introduction of new computer technology at the Mirror in the 1970s, spending time touring America for advice on how to replace hot metal presses.