TRIBUTES are pouring in today following the death of one of Dorset's first female news journalists, Pat Sloman.

TV news presenter Mrs Sloman, who died on Wednesday of lung cancer, aged 77, was known as a strong and dynamic woman, both among family and friends and also work colleagues.

Her son, Brian Sloman, who followed his mother into journalism, said: "She packed it all in to her family and professional life, but she was a mother first and a journalist second.

"God knows what she would have achieved if she had been able to devote all of her time to journalism.

"When she was working at the Echo she would do some television shift work to earn the extra crust which would mean catching a train to Dover via London from Bournemouth, as well as bringing up two children."

Pat, who lived in Wimborne, Poole and Bournemouth, worked as women's page editor on the Echo in 1965 before going into television, eventually becoming a familiar face on Home At 4.30 and Day by Day.

In later years, she championed the cause of the Senegalese people, arriving with a French TV documentary team, which raised a considerable sum for Unicef.

Working as a columnist, she joined the NUJ where she became minutes secretary for the Bourne-mouth branch.

Married twice, she continued her journalistic career, despite bringing up her two children, Brian and Richard. She also leaves behind four grandchildren.

She held a number of roles including that of public affairs director for Dorset.

Later, she would become a trustee with Poole Arts Centre and sat on the executive board of Unicef UK.

The funeral service will take place on Wednesday February 11, at 11.30am at Wimborne Minster.

Any donations will go to the Cancer Society.