Tributes have been paid the former editor of a Scottish daily and its Sunday sister title who has died aged 81.

Endell Laird, pictured left, edited both the Daily Record and the Sunday Mail during his career.

He began his career working on the Dundee Courier before moving to the Scottish Daily Express and the Glasgow Evening Times.

He was editor of the Sunday Mail from 1971 to 1988 and took charge of the Record from 1988 to 1994, running both publications under the title of editor-in-chief.

Former Record columnist Tom Brown told the paper: “He went from Dundee to the Scottish Daily Express in Glasgow and was never afraid to trust his own judgment.

“He made his mark when he was left on the subs’ desk the night the Ibrox Disaster broke.

“Although he was not an executive, he made the decision to stop the presses, strip the paper and produce a disaster special.

“Shortly after that, he was asked to join the Record and Sunday Mail.”

While he was editor of the Mail, the paper raised £600,000 for units at Yorkhill Children’s Hospital and Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

Then, while in charge of the Record, he oversaw a campaign which raised £4million to build Scotland’s first children’s hospice.

Former Record managing editor Malcolm Speed, added: “Endell Johnston Laird was steeped in the thoroughness of DC Thomson and his ‘double-check’ cry was a feature of the editorial floor at Anderston Quay.

“Perhaps his greatest achievement was the donation from Record readers to CHAS – the children’s charity – which ensured the building of Rachel House.”

Endell is survived by wife June, two daughters and a son.