A former regional journalist who went on to become a well-known figure in public relations has died aged 63.

Tributes have been paid to Carol Rennard, pictured, who had lived with breast cancer for nearly 20 years.

Carol trained as a journalist with Yorkshire Post Newspapers before going into PR, where she worked with the Co-Op and a college before joining the Northern Lights agency in Harrogate.

She chaired the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Yorkshire and Humber committee.

University lecturer and PR practitioner Robert Minton-Taylor told the Yorkshire Post: “Carol was extremely supportive of Leeds Beckett Students’ Union ‘Fair Deal for Interns’ campaign and, if truth be known, we would never have achieved our accreditation programme for interns had she not given us the inspiration for doing so.”

He added: “In my 50 years working in PR and journalism I have met few executives in our industry who were genuinely nice people.

“The kind of person you could call up when all hell was breaking loose, give you impartial advice, a hug or a warm smile and tell you not to worry.

“Carol was truly one of these people. She always thought of others first.”

A remembrance service was held in Tunstall, North Yorkshire, last month.