A regional daily’s former arts editor whose pub party piece involved eating a glass has died aged 79.

Tributes have been paid to Phil Key, who held the role at the now-defunct Liverpool Daily Post.

Phil, pictured, spent most of his professional life at the Daily Post and was known for his trademark trilby hats.

Mark Thomas, who was the editor of the Liverpool Daily Post from 2007 until it ceased publication in 2013, led the tributes.

He told the Liverpool Echo “This is such sad news. Phil was a lovely man, and a unique character.

“I remember in my early days as a young reporter at the Post and Echo watching, bewildered and slightly horrified, as he did his pub party piece of eating a glass.

“There was never a dull moment when he was around. He was absolutely loved by Liverpool’s artistic community, and I’m sure by all who worked with him, too.

“I’m so sorry to hear of his passing. I won’t be alone among his colleagues in saying that I feel like I’ve lost a dear old pal.”

In later life, Phil moved into a care home in Banbury to be closer to his family. He died at John Radcliffe Hospital, in Oxford.

He is survived by his twin brother Martin, his oldest brother Michael and his nieces and nephews.