The former women’s editor and theatre critic of a regional newspaper has died aged 88.

Tributes have been paid to Althea Robins, pictured left, who worked at the Scunthorpe Telegraph in the 1970s and 1980s when it still printed daily.

During her career, Althea interviewed the likes of Ian Botham, Michael Parkinson, Gladys Aylward, Coronation Street’s Helen Worth and James Herriot.

She was married to the Telegraph’s news editor, who she outlived, and the couple had four children.

Paying tribute, her daughter Lucinda Hopkins told the Telegraph: “Althea was very well-known in amateur dramatic circles.

“This enabled her to indulge her passion for theatre seeing both amateur and professional productions for free. She never considered it as a job, more as a privilege.”

Lucinda added: “Althea viewed much of her journalistic career as a pleasure, reporting on mayoral banquets, Bottesford and Yaddlethorpe WI meetings, Scunthorpe Ladies’ Luncheon Club as well as interviewing some fascinating people.”

Althea also worked on the Scunthorpe Target – the sister paper of the Telegraph – under the editorship of Richard Scott.

Away from journalism she was a member of the Labour Party and her local Women’s Institute.

In retirement she also used her journalistic skill to edit her local parish magazine, and served as secretary to the parochial church council of her local place of worship.

At Althea’s request, her body has been donated for anatomical examination, education, training and research at The Royal College of Surgeons of England in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London.

A memorial service to celebrate her life was held at All Saints’ Church in Winterton, Lincolnshire, at 11am on Monday.