A cameraman who filmed some of Brighton and Hove's most famous events and people over four decades has died at the age of 75.

During almost 40 years in Brighton, Mike Edwards filmed prime ministers, movie stars, disasters and public occasions.

He shot thousands of news stories along the south coast, such as the bombing at the Grand Hotel in 1984 and the opening of the UK's first nudist beach, still operating today. His wife Maggie, who lives at their home in Preston Park, said: "He was one of the old school. All the letters I have been getting were amazing. He always took an interest in all the stories he did. He was always interested in everything.

"He met everybody and knew everything to do with Brighton."

Mike began working in Brighton for ITV's daily programme Day By Day in 1968. He later moved to the BBC, where he worked for South Today for more than 30 years.

Born in Southend, Mike learned his trade in the Royal Navy before working for the Central Electricity Board in the Midlands.

In 1967 he answered an advert in The Daily Telegraph to join a year-long expedition to the Antarctic with the explorer Bill Tillman on a 1906 Bristol Pilot Cutter.

ITV commissioned him to film the adventure and his future career was secured.

After returning to the UK, Mike worked for Southern Today, now Meridian, where he met his wife-to-be who was a news copytaker. Maggie later worked as a copy-taker for The Evening Argus.

She said: "Mike was so well known around this area. He filmed thousands of local news stories - we would often get a phone call in the middle of the night."

He was still working at the age of 73. He leaves a widow and two grown-up children.

The funeral is at Woodvale Crematorium, Brighton, on Monday at 4pm.