Former Kent Messenger reporter Victor Briggs has died.

He was 84.

Mr Briggs worked at the Kent Messenger's Tunbridge Wells office between 1993 and 2006.

Before that he had been chief reporter with the Kent and Sussex Courier for 18 years.

He started in journalism writing for trade magazines in the wine industry, but his long career took in many paths.

He worked with the News of the World, the Daily Sketch and The People and also became a literary agent for the Scott Meredith Agency, representing American novelist Norman Mailer in England.

He became a writer himself, publishing his first novel, A Time and A Place, in 1970. Seven other works followed, including a book about Churchill.

He also worked as an editor at the publishers, the New English Library.

John White, a former KM Group new editor and assistant editor for the Kent Messenger knew him well. He said: "I can't imagine a single journalist who ever worked alongside Vic having a bad word to say about him.

"He was simply a very nice guy with an easy-going personality and a wealth of knowledge. He was also a great feature writer."

Born in Finchley, Mr Briggs left school at 16. He married Sally Barrett in 1954 with whom he had two children, Simon and Deborah, but the couple divorced in 1973.

He then had a long-term relationship with his partner Angela Barrett, until she predeceased him in 1996.

He had lived in Mayfield for the past 54 years and was at one time the village's parish clerk.

Mr Briggs leaves six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

His funeral will be at St Dunstan’s Church in Mayfield, at 2pm on April 25, followed by a wake at Mr Brigg's favourite local - the Middle House Inn.