The launch editor of a weekly newspaper who remained in post until the end of his life has died aged 85.

Michael Guy ran the Leigh Times series from 1983 up until his death, which came after a long battle against pulmonary fibrosis.

Michael, pictured, founded the title in Leigh-on-Sea, in Essex, with the help of his sons Michael and Jonathan after a journalism career which took in both regional and national titles.

Three years later he launched the Rayleigh Times, now called the Rayleigh & Eastwood Times, with the Island Times, now called the Canvey & Benfleet Times, following in 1988.

The three titles were sold to Tindle Newspapers in 2008, but Michael continued as editor.

His son Michael will now succeed him for the forseeable future

An obituary in the Leigh Times reads: “Mr Guy was a big man with a big heart, firm but always fair in his dealings with people and he earned the respect of those he worked with through his dedication to the industry that he loved.

“His pride in the Leigh Times Series was clear for all to see. He faced many tough battles during the early days, but through his professionalism and dedication he’d succeeded where others had failed.”

Michael was born in Sunderland and began his journalism career as a reporter on the Banbury Guardian after completing National Service in the Royal Navy, later going on to the Birmingham Evening Mail and Coventry Evening Telegraph.

Eccentric Labour MP Woodrow Wyatt then recruited Michael as his editor in chief to launch new colour newspapers in Birmingham, Coventry, Teesside, Swindon and Wiltshire.

He then moved to a new project – launching a new paper to help combat strikes among the 40,000 Port of London workforce.

This was so successful that, when the shipbuilding industry was nationalised in 1977, he was asked to produce a newspaper for its 75,000 employees.

Michael’s work caught the eye of Rupert Murdoch, who asked him to provide a newspaper for his 45,000 employees worldwide.

According to the Leigh Times, it was always “his dream to launch his own newspaper” and he remained editor “right up until his death”.

Michael is survived by wife Shirley, sons Michael and Jonathan and daughters Julie and Sharon, as well as 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. His daughter Lisa died in 2018.

His funeral was held at St Clement’s Church, Leigh, on Thursday.