A former chief reporter at a regional daily has been found dead at his home at the age of 73.

Robert Nesbitt, who was known as Bert, worked for the now-defunct Doncaster Evening Post from the mid-1970s, initially as a reporter then as chief reporter.

He remained at the title until it folded in 1983, when he took up freelance journalism and reported on cases at Doncaster Crown Court.

The South Yorkshire Times reported that Robert’s body was found by a cleaner at his bungalow in the Wheatley Hills area of Doncaster at the weekend.

An autopsy has now been ordered by Doncaster coroner Nicola Mundy to find out the cause of his death and this is likely to lead to an inquest.

Robert, who was a widower, originated from Northern Ireland and moved to South Yorkshire in the mid-1970s.