A daily newspaper has renamed its boardroom in memory of a former editor who was involved in its running for almost a quarter of a century.

The Belfast Telegraph has made the gesture in honour of Roy Lilley, who died earlier this year aged 85.

Roy, pictured, edited the Belfast Telegraph from 1974 to 1992.

He subsequently became editorial director of the Bel Tel, spending six years in that role before retiring in 1998.

The Roy Lilley Room was officially opened at a ceremony attended by his wife Georgina and daughters Claire and Rozalind.

Claire told the Bel Tel her father’s “defining identity” was as a journalist.

She added: “He truly believed in the power of journalism and in particular the Belfast Telegraph to build a better future for NI.”

Current Bel Tel also attended the renaming ceremony as did Roy’s former colleagues Robin Walsh, Martin Lindsay, Barry White, Jim Gracey and Alf McCreary.

Edward McCann, director of publishing operations at the paper’s publisher Mediahuis Ireland, said: “Roy has been variously described as courageous, a man of integrity and, of course, a great journalist.

“These attributes were fundamental to the Belfast Telegraph then. They remain fundamental to the Belfast Telegraph and Mediahuis today.”