Friends and colleagues of the "most lovely" Darlington Asda manager who passed away earlier this year have raised thousands of pounds in his name.

Saul Giddings was just 49 years old when he sadly died following a sudden heart attack on August 27 whilst holidaying with family in Morocco.

The much-loved dad of five and grandad of two worked as the manager of Asda Darlington and was just over a month away from taking part in a charity walk raising funds for breast cancer charity Tickled Pink.

Saul Giddings, 49. (Image: GOFUNDME) Following his death, the team decided to still go ahead from the walk on Sunday (October 6) in his name from Darlington's Asda and ending at Saul's local pub, The Penny Black in Stockton.

The team of 45 completed the walk in just two hours and 36 minutes and raised nearly £4,000 through donations as well as through a fun day at the store itself on Saturday (October 5).

One of Saul's colleagues, Joanne Lowe has told The Northern Echo: "It went amazing and we are so close to hitting that £4,000 target. 

"There was such a good atmosphere and it only took us just over two and a half hours. It was just a really happy day."

The team from Darlington Asda at the walk on Sunday.The team from Darlington Asda at the walk on Sunday. (Image: JOANNE LOWE)

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A picture taken of the full team before the walk shows 

Tributes flooded in for Saul after his death including from one of his colleagues, Joanne Lowe, who said the whole team were "devastated" when they heard the news.

She told The Northern Echo: "He was the most bubbly, lovely and funniest man you could ever meet. He was the life and soul of the store - if you walked in feeling down he could pick you back up in a minute.