A DALE community has been mourning the loss of a man they came to admire as "the gentleman postmaster".

Robert "Bobby" Douglas died from a heart attack at his home in Frosterley, in Weardale, County Durham. He was 67.

Villagers described Mr Douglas, who ran the local post office for 12 years with his wife, Glenna, as "a lovely man who always had a word for everyone."

Mr Douglas, who was born in Glasgow, first moved to Tyneside as a boy. After school he went to the Merchant Navy College at Conway, North Wales, and from there he served in the Merchant Navy.

He later joined the Marley tile company at Lanchester, in County Durham, where he was area manager for six years.

Mr Douglas moved to Weardale when his mother retired and it was there that he and Glenna were married in 1961.

By this time, Mr Douglas had started a successful newsagents business in Darlington, which is carried on today by his son, Sandy.

Mr Douglas then took over as postmaster at Frosterley. When the post office closed two years ago, he helped the Penrith Co-operative Society set up a new office in the village store.

Former Weardale district councillor John Chatfield, who used to meet Mr Douglas for a drink on Wednesday nights, said: "Apart from being an interesting man and a real friend, he will be a great loss to the community."

He leaves sons, Sandy and Alister, and daughter, Emma.

Mr Douglas will be cremated at Darlington on Tuesday. This will be followed by a thanksgiving service at St Michael and All Angels Church, Frosterley, at 2.30pm.