Members of Scottish media have paid tribute to "inspirational broadcaster", Alex Dickson, who has died aged 82.

One of the central figures in Scottish radio, the former presenter and Managing Director of Glasgow-based Radio Clyde passed away on Tuesday following a battle with lung cancer, the station confirmed.

Tributes were paid to the broadcaster from former staff and colleagues, while Clyde 2 also ran a tribute after it had announced his death.

Former colleagues said he had "high standards" who was "great at spotting and nurturing talent".

Obituary - Alex Dickson, former presenter and managing director at Radio Clyde

As Head of News, Dickson set up a training centre within Radio Clyde for journalists, attracting students from across the UK.

He was responsible for launching a number of well-known broadcasters’ careers including Jackie Bird, Ross King, Bill Turnbull and Paul Coia and also employed Donald Dewar for a Friday evening phone in between stints as an MP.

As Head of Programming, he then secured the station’s dominance in Glasgow and the West, as well as winning a succession of awards for Radio Clyde.

He took up the position of Managing Director of Radio Clyde in 1996 before retiring in 2000, having posted the station’s best listening figures since its launch in 1973.

He is known to listeners for presenting his own half hour book reviews, interviewing hundreds of authors, including Scottish novelist Alistair MacLean, author of the Guns of Navarone and Where Eagles Dare.

As well as being awarded an OBE, he was an Honorary Air Commodore of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and received the Queen’s Volunteer Reserves Medal (Q.V.R.M.).

He is survived by his wife Anna, aged 82 and son Simon, a successful TV producer with Channel 4, and two grandchildren.

Formerly living in Bearsden, he had lived in Newhaven, Edinburgh for the last three years.

Dickson's successor, Paul Cooney, said that after he had stepped down as Managing Director, they staying in touch as friends, but he always thought of him as "chief".

He said: "He was amazing character: he demanded a lot and got the best out of people.

"He took me on as a very raw 18-year-old at Radio Clyde, and he told me that if I worked very hard, and I continued to be enthusiastic about the business, I would follow him as Managing Director.

"And then when he stood down, 25 years later, his word came true."

Cooney, who is now CEO of the Kiltwalk, added: "If he saw [talent] he would spend a lot of time with people to improve them.

"He always said ‘standard, commitment, value for money’, that’s what he wanted."

Obituary - Alex Dickson, former presenter and managing director at Radio Clyde

Graham Bryce, Group Managing Director of Bauer Radio in Scotland, owners of Radio Clyde, said:"Alex Dickson was an inspirational broadcaster, an influential leader and one of the key figures in the growth of UK commercial radio.

"The high editorial standards and attention to detail he insisted upon were legendary and set the bar for others to follow.

"Our thoughts are with his family and many friends at this sad time."

Radio presenter Gina McKie tweeted: "I learned so much from this great radio boss, Alex Dickson.

"I will never forget his morning prayers, high standards & tickety-boo attitude when he was in a menacing mood.

"Miss you Alex and your insatiable appetite for always learning and encouraging others."

Clyde Broadcast also paid tribute via Twitter, saying: "Clyde Broadcast are saddened to hear of the passing of Alex Dickson, former MD of Radio Clyde.

"A number of our team worked with Alex in the infancy of our company. That relationship between Radio Clyde and Clyde Broadcast is still held today. Our thoughts are with his family."

BBC Presenter Susannah Streeter tweeted: "Very sorry to hear that Alex Dickson has died. He was a former presenter and MD of @radioclyde and also my unit's honorary air commodore in the RAF reserves. An inspirational man to many."