A regional daily’s former assistant editor who also worked in broadcasting during his career has died aged 85.

Tributes have been paid to Patrick Beasley, pictured, who held the senior role at the Peterborough Telegraph.

He also edited specialist publications the Angling Times and Auto News, as well as reporting for the BBC and Peterborough’s Hereward Radio.

Known for the quality of his crime coverage, Cambridgeshire Constabulary presented him with a plaque-mounted police truncheon in honour of his retirement in 1997.

Telegraph photographer David Lowndes told the newspaper: “Patrick was regarded as the top freelance journalist in the city during the 60s.

“He knew everybody. People in the industry would have given everything to get hold of his contacts book.”

March-born Patrick moved to Peterborough aged 16 and began his career on the Peterborough Advertiser in 1954.

As well as his work with the Telegraph, he covered Northamptonshire, north Cambridgeshire, south Lincolnshire and Bedfordshire for the BBC aas a freelance during the latter part of his career.

His daughter Nicole told the Telegraph: “After dad retired he went to live in his beloved Spain. He loved the heat and enjoyed water skiing and kept a boat out there.”

Patrick died at the Glennfields Nursing Home, in Wisbech, on 31 May after living with Alzheimer’s and dementia for three years. He is survived by Nicole, stepson Craig, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.