A former business editor and columnist at a regional daily has died aged 75.

Tributes have been paid to Ken Hurst, who ran the business desk at the Eastern Daily Press for six years.

Ken, pictured, also worked as a freelance columnist at the Norwich-based daily, writing more than 200 up until 2012.

EDP obituary writer Donna-Louise Bishop wrote in a tribute piece to him that “his voice became a much-recognised one in Norfolk”.

Jo Gilbert, Ken’s partner of 35 years, told the newspaper: “Whatever he did, he did well. He would do everything to the best of his ability and would not take failure for an answer.

“He has left an amazing legacy and I miss him greatly.”

London-born Ken began his career as a reporter in the capital before getting involved in weekly newspaper production in Zambia during the 1970s.

He returned to England to work for newspapers and magazines before heading up Norwich Union’s corporate affairs division – a legacy which can still be seen in Aviva’s logo today.

Ken returned to journalism during the 1990s becoming a freelancer and co-owning the audio magazine Sound, as well as fronting the BBC radio programme Yesterday’s Papers, before joining the EDP.

He died on 8 May following a short diagnosis of cancer and is survived by Jo, five children, grandchildren and a great-grandchild.