A regional daily “stalwart” has died while in an airport on holiday four days after his 76th birthday.

Tributes have been paid to Barry Sellers, who spent 35 years with the York Press.

Barry. pictured, had been on a river cruise through Switzerland and Germany with his wife Elaine after celebrating his birthday.

They were in Frankfurt Airport when Barry suddenly became unwell and died, according to the Press.

Two doctors who came to his aid believed it was a heart attack, but the family is yet to receive official confirmation.

Elaine told the Press: “He was out of breath, which wasn’t like him.

“I asked him if he was in pain and he said he was alright, he sat down and that was it.

“It’s some comfort that it was instantaneous.”

Paying tribute, former Press deputy editor Bill Hearld told the paper: “Barry was a great colleague and a larger-than-life character.

“He was always cheerful and enjoyed a laugh – and a pint.

“He believed in the paper and nobody worked harder to promote it, always pitching in with a passion. He will be sadly missed.”

Former chief reporter Mike Laycock added: “Barry was a good colleague of mine at the paper for many years – someone with a good sense of humour and good to chat to.

“He was also a good contact, who knew what was going on in the York community and would regularly call me with a tip off on a story.

“This carried on after he retired. I’d regularly get an email from Barry, often about things happening in his village, Stockton on the Forest, right up until I retired earlier this year.

“I’d like to extend my condolences to Barry’s family, to whom this must have come as a shattering shock.”

Barry, who worked for the Press between 1971 and 2006, died on 28 July.

He is survived by Elaine, sons Paul and Mark, grandchildren Megan, Hannah and Benji, and two step-granddaughters, Chloe and Olivia.