A journalist who wrote for a weekly newspaper for 20 years has died aged 90.

Tributes have been paid to Rex Needle, who wrote columns for the Bourne Local between 1999 and 2019.

Rex, pictured, worked as a journalist on Fleet Street before moving to Bourne, in Lincolnshire, in the mid-1980s.

He wrote nearly 600 articles for the Local and also ran a website covering the history of Bourne for many years.

Editor Kerry Coupe said: “It was an enormous shock to learn of Rex’s passing and the thoughts of everyone at Iliffe Media are with his family.

“His contributions to the Bourne Local were hugely appreciated over many years and since Rex told me he wanted to stop writing them, I know they have been missed by our readers.

“On a personal level, Rex was also hugely supportive of me and always willing to help out with any questions I had about the town which I also now call home.”

Rex died on 22 March following a short illness, with his wife of 58 years Elke and son Justin by his side.

He also leaves a grandson Anton and two elder brothers.