A regional daily’s former chief photographer who was a “consummate professional” has died aged 78.

Tributes have been paid to Bob Mason, who worked for the Hull Daily Mail between 1980 and 1999.

Bob, who was originally from Rutland, was known for capturing “dramatic scenes” including a fire which engulfed the Royal Station Hotel, in Hull city centre, in 1990 and the aftermath of the collision between two oil tankers, the Phillips Oklahoma and the Fiona, in 1989.

He was also responsible for the graphic, reproduction and archive department as well as running the picture desk at the Mail.

Roy Woodcock, a former Mail sub-editor and ex-editor of The Journal, told the newspaper: “I worked with Bob for many years.

“He was a consummate professional, a great organiser as a picture editor and a hugely-talented photographer.”

Current Mail journalist Angus Young recalled Bob’s photographs from the scene of the 1986 Lockington train derailment, pictured above, when nine people died and over 50 passengers were injured.

He said: “Typically, Bob was the first photographer on the scene that awful day and the images he captured were unforgettable.

“Not only did he cover the actual incident but he also had to drive back to Hull to develop and print all his pictures in the Mail’s traditional old photographic darkroom before the deadline for the next edition of the paper.”

After leaving the Mail in 1999 Bob continued his involvement in a Hull-based community project called Artworx, tutoring and mentoring amateur photographers who were interested in turning their hobby into a career.

He later volunteered to work as a counsellor at the relationship support charity Relate.

Bob, who died after a long illness, is survived by wife Liz, three children and five grandchildren.

A funeral service will take place on 28 January at the East Riding Crematorium, Cross Road, Octon, near Driffield, starting at 1.30pm.

Attendance will be subject to coronavirus restrictions.