Tributes have poured in for a popular Midlands journalist and PR specialist Bill Jones who has died aged 64.

Tamworth man Mr Jones was a former Birmingham Mail cricket writer who had also worked in both news and sport at operations including theTamworth Herald and Wolverhampton Express and Star.

He was also a well-known figure in PR, having worked for development agency Advantage West Midlands and provided marketing journalism and lobbying support for the West Midlands Minority Ethnic Business Forum.

Mr Jones, who had suffered a heart attack, died at Good Hope Hospital, Sutton Coldfield, last week.

His widow Linda said: "He was a great man whose enthusiasm for his work and for sport were truly and inspiration. He will be sadly missed."

The grandfather of three was a keen cricket and rugby enthusiast, playing in his younger days and later becoming an umpire and referee. He worked in journalism for 40 years.

Leon Hickman, former head of sport at what was then branded the Evening Mail, described Mr Jones' style as "affable, with a light touch and always frank".

Advantage West Midlands' chief executive John Edwards said: "Bill was great man who was genuinely popular and made a superb contribution not just to the agency directly but also to the Minority Ethnic Business Forum."