A “dedicated and talented” weekly newspaper sub-editor has died aged 36 after a short battle with cancer.

Tributes have been paid to Adam Barrah, pictured left, who worked at the Aberystwyth-based Cambrian News and also enjoyed a career in music.

Adam began working in journalism 10 years ago, and also spent time at the Western Telegraph as well as a spell in Cyprus.

However, the talented musician’s aspirations also saw him spend time away from the regional press when he attempted to achieve fame with Cardiff-based band OK.

Bass player Adam featured on BBC Radio and Radio Wales as part of the band, who recorded their debut album in 2010.

Adam, who had worked at the Cambrian News since 2014, passed away surrounded by his family at home in Dinas Cross, Pembrokeshire, earlier this month.

The newspaper’s managing editor Bev Thomas said: “Adam was a popular staff member who will be greatly missed. He was a dedicated and talented sub-editor with an eye for detail and great flair.

“In particular we will miss his dry sense of humour and his collection of very loud shirts.”

After attending school in Fishguard, Adam graduated from the University of Westminster with a degree in journalism.

He then moved back to Wales to work as a sub-editor on the Telegraph in 2006.

Telegraph news editor Lee Day said: “Adam made a huge impression on everyone and quickly became close friends with those he worked alongside.

“Adam was one of the funniest people you could ever meet and no matter how close to deadline, how tense the situation, he could be relied upon to be unflappable under pressure.”

Adam also wrote an entertainment column for the Milford Mercury, but left the industry between 2008 and 2012 due to his commitments with OK.

He then moved to Cyprus to team up with former Telegraph colleague Simon Carr, working as a sub-editor on English language newspaper Cyprus Today.

Said Simon: “Adam and I first met outside the Western Telegraph when I helped him push his broken car off the road. This was the first newspaper either of us had worked on and we also shared a house just around the corner from the office.

“Years later, as news editor on Cyprus Today, I was thrilled to persuade him to come and work with me abroad; not only because he was a great friend and talented journalist but also because he had a personality that could brighten a news room.

He added: “I know he always wanted to be in a successful band, work abroad and be a journalist and he did all those things and had lots of great times along the way – it was privilege to share some of these with him.

“If I am fortunate enough to find myself sitting in pub, in decades to come, nursing a beer, I will still think of Adam and I’ll still miss him. I know his friends in Cyprus are heartbroken at the news of his death, as is everyone who knew him.”

Adam passed away surrounded by his family at home in Dinas Cross, Pembrokeshire, on 7 January.