CIVIC leaders joined local authority staff and people from community groups at a thanksgiving service for a former council chairwoman yesterday.

Councillor Belle Bousfield, 74, headed Wear Valley District Council in 1997 and was its housing committee chairwoman until her death last week.

Mourners crowded into the schoolroom at Crook Methodist Church, County Durham, to hear her friend, council leader Olive Brown, pay a moving tribute to her dedication and commitment.

Born into a large family in Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, Mrs Bousfield moved to Helmington Row, Crook, with her husband, Alf, 50 years ago, running a smallholding and later the village post office.

She supported many community causes and campaigned for the village hall to be rebuilt.

Mrs Brown said: "Belle was a wonderful and dedicated councillor. The council was her whole life."

Money collected at the service will go to the Mara cancer treatment unit at Bishop Auckland General Hospital, for which Mrs Bousfield raised £10,000 in her husband's memory.