TRIBUTES have been paid to a detective who died suddenly in hospital.

Detective Constable Paul Richardson, 45, was diagnosed as having a brain tumour in December and was to begin treatment yesterday.

But the condition of the father-of-two deteriorated on Tuesday morning and he was rushed to Darlington Memorial Hospital, where he died soon after arriving.

Det Con Richardson joined the police cadets in 1976 and switched to the regular force two years later. He went on the beat in Teesdale, and three years later became a scenes-of-crime investigator, a post he held for five years.

Much of his career was spent in CID and he served with the drugs squad for three years. For the past six years, he was involved in special operations with the CID.

He was commended 13 times by chief constables and praised by High Court judges.

Detective Chief Superintendent Ian Scott, the force's head of CID, said: "I found I was able to rely completely on his judgement, professionalism and loyalty.

"He was totally committed to his work and his sudden death has been a tremendous shock. All our thoughts are with his family."

He leaves a wife, Jill, son Mark, daughter Helen and granddaughter Megan.