tributes have been paid to the man who was a driving force behind the North-East producing one of the country's most successful journalism schools.

Ted Hill, of Clare Avenue, Darlington, died last Wednesday, aged 83.

He was renowned in the media industry for helping to establish the National Council for the Training of Journalists' (NCTJ) newspaper journalism course at Darlington College of Technology.

Born in Horley, Surrey, in 1922, he developed a love of writing and drawing at an early age. He was a Scout leader in the area, setting up, writing and illustrating a district newsletter, which he persuaded local newspaper chiefs to print.

During the Second World War, Mr Hill served with the French Navy as a liaison officer. He met his wife, Joan, during the war.

Afterwards, he worked on newspapers in Halifax and Sheffield, before taking up a sub-editing post on The Daily Telegraph, in Manchester. He also worked as a sub- editor on the News of the World.

Mr Hill moved to Darlington in 1968 to establish a journalism course.

The NCTJ course has become hugely popular, producing journalists who have gone on to work regionally and nationally.

Mr Hill helped forge links with Norway, which have led to thousands of foreign students attending Darlington College over the past two decades.

He retired in the mid-1980s, but continued to work for the NCTJ, assessing and marking examination papers.

His son, Graham Hill, said yesterday: "He loved writing and he loved drawing - those were his two passions in life."

Peter Barron, editor of The Northern Echo, said: "Ted laid the foundations for the careers of countless journalists.

"He had a great passion for journalism and a wonderful way of transmitting that to his students. A large number of journalists who trained at Darlington owe him a great deal."

The funeral of Mr Hill, who leaves seven children, takes place tomorrow, at 1.15pm, at Darlington Crematorium.