A FORMER North East editor who worked at numerous national titles has died aged 71.

Peter Chislett started his career in journalism in local newspapers and progressed to Fleet Street where he worked on a number of national titles and for Associated Press news agency.

He then took the post of news editor at The News in Portsmouth, and later became editor of the Advertiser Series in Darlington and of the Hartlepool Mail in 1981 - where he was the youngest editor in England.

During his time in Portsmouth he met his future wife, author and historian Philippa Gregory, and they were married for six years, having a daughter Victoria.

He also pursued his love of tennis while at the South Coast paper, playing for Lee on Solent Tennis Club.

But after moving to Hartlepool he was later diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and retired early, but continued to work part-time for local newspapers and returned to the south to live in West Sussex.

Mr Chislett passed away in St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester, after a short illness.

He was born in Hexham, Northumberland, in 1942, the son of naval architect John, and his wife Esme, and leaves a brother, David, and a daughter, Victoria.

His funeral will be at Chichester Crematorium on Wednesday, February 12, at 10.15am.

The family have requested no flowers but donations to RSPB and the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Details from Reynolds Funeral Directors 01243-773311.