TRIBUTES have been paid to a former journalist from Worcester who was unafraid of 'speaking truth to power'.

James Erlichman, of Fort Royal Hill, Worcester, famously broke the mad cow disease story during his time at the Guardian newspaper.

Mr Erlichman moved to the city in 2006 and became a well-respected member of the community, volunteering with schoolchildren and the homeless.

His partner, Penny Perrett, told the Worcester News that she wished she had more time with him, following his death, aged 69.

She said: "I loved him to bits.

"He was patient, committed and a total believer in everything. He loved an argument and hated chit-chat.

"He loved shopping for food, cooking and sharing food with friends and family.

"He always pushed for the truth. He wasn't frightened of speaking truth to power.

"People here didn't really know what he had done, he was modest about his achievements."

Mr Erlichman volunteered with the foodbank, St Paul's Hostel and helped children with their reading at Stanley Road Primary School.

Ms Perrett described her partner as a socialist, who hated Brexit and Donald Trump, and demonstrated against the EDL's recent protest in Worcester.

She added that his death from septicaemia came completely out of the blue.

Lynn Denham, Labour's parliamentary candidate for Worcester, added: "It's a sad loss of a friend to many people in Worcester."

Sharon Multani, founder of Worcester Street Cafe, said Mr Erlichman cooked and served food for the homeless every fortnight.

She added: "I can't speak highly enough of this gentleman. He had compassion. We miss him terribly."

The former journalist was born in New York but fell in love with England during a school exchange programme.

Mr Erlichman studied at Brown University before returning to the UK and enrolling at Cambridge.

He originally worked for the Kent Messenger, followed by stints at the Guardian, BBC1 and Radio 4.

Mr Erlichman, who is survived by his two children, died on December 6.