CIVIC leaders will join family and friends at the funeral of a well-known local councillor today.

Bill Gustard, a former Mayor of Seaham, and Easington District Council chairman, died on Saturday, the eve of his 71st birthday, at St Benedict's Hospice in Sunderland, after losing a fight against cancer.

Mr Gustard was one of six brothers born and brought up in Seaham. He worked for 42 years at Dawdon Colliery, where he became an overman.

He met and married Margaret and the couple have two sons, Paul and Neville, and three grandchildren.

Towards the end of his working days, he took an active interest in politics and for the past 15 years served on Seaham Town Council and Easington District Council, representing the Seaham Harbour ward.

He was Mayor of Seaham in 1995/96 and district council chairman in Easington in 2003/04. During that year he raised more than £23,000 for his chosen charity, Macmillan Cancer Relief.

He was also chairman of the governing body of Seaham Ropery Walk Primary School for the past 15 years.

District council leader Alan Napier said: "Councillor Gustard was committed to the people he served in Seaham and the wider district."

The funeral service will be held at St Hild and St Helen's Church, in Melbury Street, Dawdon, at 11am today, followed by burial at Princess Road Cemetery, Seaham.

Donations can be made in lieu of flowers to St Benedict's Hospice.