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Man who died at wheel of car named as former weekly journalist

A former weekly newspaper journalist has died aged 75 after collapsing behind the wheel of his car.

Tributes have been paid to Peter Gill who worked as a reporter for the Cornishman newspaper and later as a sub-editor for sister title the West Briton.

Peter died two weeks ago while travelling along the B3301 in the village of Hayle, near Truro, but has only just been named.

Cornwall Live reporter Lee Trewhela used to work with Peter and was one of the first to pay tribute.

He said: “I was very upset to hear of Peter’s death. We worked together a few years ago when Peter was a sub-editor on The West Briton and the other papers in our group.

“He was brilliant at his job and a gentleman of the old school with a wicked sense of humour. Peter will be much-missed.”

The original incident led to the closure of the main road through Hayle for several hours.

The driver, now known to be Peter, had stopped his grey Citreon Belingo in the middle of the road at a roundabout near to a Lidl store.

Despite the efforts of police and paramedics who attended the scene, Peter was pronounced dead at the scene.

A spokesman for the Cornwall Coroner Service told Cornwall Live that Peter’s death had been reported to it, but that no inquest will take place as he was found to have died of natural causes.

The Lidl store at Hayle, near to where the incident occurred

The Lidl store at Hayle, near to where Peter collapsed at the weheel