A CORONER who has overseen more than 90,000 inquests in a career spanning more than three decades is retiring.

Senior coroner for County Durham and Darlington, Andrew Tweddle, said he made the decision after turning 60 and realising "you don't know whether your day will come today, tomorrow or whenever".

Mr Tweddle was born in Crook and attended Wolsingham Comprehensive School, just minutes away from his offices in the Civic Centre.

He went on to study Law at Hull University before joining the Crook solicitor's firm Marquis Penna.

Mr Tweddle said he was inspired to pursue the career as a coroner after seeing the firm's owner and his principle take up the office while he was training.

And after serving the mandatory five years as a solicitor, Mr Tweddle was appointed deputy coroner in South Durham and Darlington in 1986.

He was then appointed coroner for North Durham in 1997 and also took on the role for South Durham in 2003 before the roles were merged in 2009 and he became senior coroner.

Recalling his experience over 31 years, Mr Tweddle said: "It's not the sort of job you come to unless you enjoy it and think you are doing some good in it.

"Families can be quite upset so I think if I can make their journey through the system as least unpleasant as it can be then that's what I strive to do."

He added: "The one thing you realise in this job is that we all die and I have been working all my life.

"You don't know whether your day will come today, tomorrow or whenever and I have just decided it's time to spend some time at home."

During his time in the role, Mr Tweddle has been president of the Coroner's Society for England and Wales while also a representative on the ministerial board for deaths in custody which involves advising government ministers on the issue.

He said: "Durham and my area has a number of prisons so they unfortunately have provided a lot of work over the years."

He has also spent the last 15 years being involved in teaching coroners about the job and said he had seen a "significant amount of change" since he was first appointed.

Mr Tweddle will officially retire on August 31 and said he is looking forward to spending more time with his wife, Lynne, and family.

Interviews for the new coroner will be held next month.

Mr Tweddle could not give nay advice to his successor but said: "It's a job I have really enjoyed and loved and I do think we can make a difference."