STAFF and students at a North-East university have paid tribute to a senior academic who has died.

Dr Jane Keithley was vice-principal and senior tutor of Durham University's St Aidan's College.

Dr Keithley joined the university in 1974 as a lecturer in social administration after having served as director of the Institute of Health Studies.

She was appointed senior tutor of St Aidan's College in 2001 and became vice-principal last year. She continued to lecture part-time with the Department of Sociology and Social Policy within the School of Applied Social Sciences.

Her research interests focused on gender and health issues, and she was particularly involved with health services in the Northern region.

She had also studied comparisons between health services in the UK, US and Europe, and the health policy of the European Union.

Vice-chancellor Sir Kenneth Calman said: "Jane Keithley was a much-loved and admired colleague by staff, and a very positive influence in the life and welfare of students, both in St Aidan's and among the colleges as a whole, with her common sense and sound advice.

"She finally lost her brave battle against cancer and there is a great sense of loss."

Staff and student representatives joined family and friends at her funeral yesterday in Durham.