THE legacy of a Barrow journalist killed in an IRA bombing lives on 37 years after his death.

Philip Geddes was killed an explosion at Harrods in London nearly four decades ago to the day.

The promising journalist, then employed by the Daily Express, died aged 24.

Having attended Barrow Grammar School he had left the Furness town to study at Oxford where he was a contemporary of future prime minister Theresa May and then joined the London Evening Standard.

The young journalist was nearby when orders were made for the famous Knightsbridge store to be evacuated on December 17 1983.

Racing towards the story, he went to the department store to investigate only to be killed a bomb planted the paramilitary group at the height of the Troubles.

A tree and plaque are placed at St Edmund Hall, the Oxford college where he studied, in his memory.

Prizes are also given out by the Philip Geddes Trust, set up following his death.

Each year the trust awards the Philip Geddes Memorial Prize to promising student journalists.

Former prizewinners have gone on to work for the BBC, ITN, Reuters, the Economist and a range of national newspapers.

The Geddes Memorial Lecture also takes place every year with a host of famous faces delivering talks.

Speakers have included leading journalists such as Jeremy Paxman, Laura Kuenssberg, Jon Snow. Nick Robinson as well as host of newspaper editors.

Mr Geddes was said to have the son of Michael Geddes, a Polish immigrant who was a well known tailor in Barrow and an active member of the Barrow Rotary Club during the 1970s and early 1980s.

Barrow's Rotary Club has previously held events to mark the anniversary of the journalist's death.

Three police officers and three civilians were killed in the blast at Harrods and a further 90 injured.

A car bomb was planted outside the department and store and detonated after a warning sent by the IRA 37 minutes before.

A memorial now sits at the scene of the bombing to honour the victims of the attack.