FARMERS paid tributes yesterday following the death of a contractor who turned out at all hours to help them.

Frank Bainbridge, 47, could turn his hand to many jobs and also ran a farm at Willoughby Hall, in Baldersdale, near Barnard Castle, County Durham.

Farmer John High, of High Corn Park, Baldersdale, said, "Frank gave a great service to the farming community. He went out quickly every time he was needed and always had a friendly smile for everyone.

"His loss at such an early age is tragic for his family, and a severe loss for the many people who looked on him as a reliable friend."

Mr Bainbridge and his wife, Olwen, had built up the business of grass cutting, baling, silage-making and seed-planting, which they started in the week they were married in 1982.

They covered an area from Tebay, in Cumbria, to North-allerton, North Yorkshire.

Mrs Bainbridge said: "At busy times of the year, he would be gone from the house by 6am and sometimes would not be back until after midnight. He would never turn down a request for help. He lived for his work and family."

She said that during his last months, when he knew he would not recover his health, his great regret was that he would never be able to work full-time with his son, Richard, who has just left school aged 16.

A funeral service will be held at Cotherstone Parish Church at noon on Friday.

Donations can be given at a reception after for the Lung Cancer Trust Fund at Darlington Memorial Hospital.