LOCAL MP Alun Cairns has been among those paying tribute to a Welsh political journalist whose career in newspapers stretched across more than four decades.

The death of Clive Betts was announced by his son Aled yesterday (Sunday, 15 January) and prompted this statement from Vale of Glamorgan MP Mr Cairns: "He was always kind and generous to me and he was very happy to share his background knowledge. I learned very much from him."

Mr Betts worked for the Western Mail and South Wales and served as the Mail's Welsh assembly editor before doing the same role in a freelance capacity after leaving the Mail as part of a string of cuts in the noughties.

Mr Betts joined the Echo in 1963 and held a number of roles with the Mail, including public affairs correspondent and Welsh affairs editor

Tributes were led by BBC newsreader Huw Edwards described him as 'one of the greats. The Mail's Martin Shipton said he was 'highly respected for his political coverage over many years and straddled the pre- and post-devolution eras".

Mr Betts worked as the Western Mail's assembly editor until 2002, later covering the fledgling institution - now known as the Senedd - as a freelance.

Welsh Conservative Andrew RT Davies said Mr Betts was a "real gentleman", and Caerphilly Labour MP Wayne David said he "always respected his commitment to, and love of, journalism in Wales".

Former Welsh secretary Sir Robert Buckland tweeted that they met regularly in the 1990s and said he was a "journalist of the highest order".