One of the founders of BBC local radio who helped set up Radio Stoke has died after a battle with cancer.
John Abberley – known as Abbo – joined the BBC in 1967 to help launch the station in his home city.
He was also one of Stoke-on-Trent's best-known columnists, working at the city's Evening Sentinel both before and after his time at Radio Stoke.
The 78-year-old was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer last year.
Former colleague Ali Bushnell said: "When I first started working at BBC Radio Stoke, back in 1986, John 'Abbo' Abberley was already a legend. So you can imagine what it was like for me to be working alongside him. He was so much fun. A gentleman who always asked how you were, stopped for a chat and generally made your working day memorable. He really was a pioneer local radio and someone who shall live in the hearts forever of those who have had the honour to work with him during his long career."
Read more tributes [link=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/stoke/hi/people_and_places/newsid_9166000/9166889.stm]here[/link].