An editor who ran a weekly newspaper for 14 years has died aged 71.

Tributes have been paid to Laurence Ford, pictured, who worked as a journalist until four years ago.

During his career, Laurence served titles including Aberdeen daily the Press & Journal, the Highland News, North Star and Strathspey Herald.

But the “pinnacle” of his career, according to friend and former colleague Paul Breen, was his 14-year spell in charge of the Ross-shire Journal.

In an obituary for the Journal, Paul wrote: “He was an old school journalist and proud of it. He was honest, accurate, determined and could turn around a story quickly and in a lucid manner that required little or no alteration.

“He was likeable and loved the craic with folk – and as the pub was the haunt of journalists, he built up hundreds of contacts from all walks of life.

“He also spent many years covering the courts in around the Highlands and was equally at home conversing with sheriffs, lawyers, fiscals, police and often the rogues that had been in the dock.”

According to Paul, Laurence had an “extensive” contacts book featuring names including singer Rod Stewart and Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page.

He left journalism almost four years ago to run a guest house with his partner Seonaid.

Paul added: “A good journalist never takes things at face value. In a press release, statement or interview, he or she always looks to see if anything has been hidden away either deliberately or mistakenly.

“You are looking for the line that will make your story special.

“Laurence Ford was a great journalist and would have spotted it straight away. And it is actually a line – it’s that little one between 1949 and 2021.

“For that represents 71 years of a life well lived at work and play. A talented journalist and fine outdoorsman and good father, family man, friend and companion.”