A RETIRED North-East journalist has died after falling overboard while on a cruise.

Former Sunderland Echo reporter Bob Horn, 69, is thought to have fallen from the ship shortly after it called at Montevideo, Uruguay.

Mr Horn, of Sunderland, had a long career at the evening newspaper, working in its city centre offices before becoming district reporter for the Houghton-le-Spring area. He retired in 2004.

His friends and former colleagues have spoken of their shock and have paid tribute to the long-serving reporter.

Former colleague Alistair Robinson, a journalism lecturer at Sunderland University said Mr Horn was “one of the great district reporters”.

He added: “He was incredibly intelligent, very well read, with an exceptional knowledge of literature and poetry.

“When I was a kid at the Echo, he would tell me about his travels around the world, and I always remember thinking how adventurous he was.

“He was also a real fixture in Houghton; everyone knew him and he knew everyone. He covered the courts, the police, the churches, he attended events, he really was a classic district reporter of his time.”

Mr Horn leaves a brother, David, of Roker, Sunderland, and a nephew.