Champion sheep breeder Joe Brown, known all over the North-East as one of farming's great characters, has died at the age of 75.

He was so keen on his flock that though disabled in his last months, he bought an electric buggy so he could drive round fields to keep an eye on them at Mount Pleasant Farm at Bowes near Barnard Castle, County Durham.

And during this year's lambing season he stayed up many nights to watch his Swaledale ewes giving birth, thanks to a closed circuit TV system set up by son Ivan.

If he saw a new-born lamb in difficulty in the early hours he would waken his wife Joan and ask her to bring it indoors so he could care for it personally.

Ivan said yesterday: "Even on the last day of his life he drove round the fields to look at his sheep. He knew them all individually and treated them like members of his family. He really loved them."

Mr Brown won prizes and titles at shows all over the region over the years, and had already entered five sheep for a big event at Penrith in Cumbria on July 24. They will still appear before the judges under his name.

Linda said: "Dad loved going round all the shows and sheep sales. We mean to enter some of his flock in his name at several events during the autumn, so hopefully he will still be winning some prizes."

Another son, Kenneth, added: "Dad said recently that he had lived his life to the full. He certainly did. He was a wonderful character who was liked everywhere. There weren't many people who knew more about Swaledale sheep than him."

He was born in Gateshead but fell in love with the countryside when he and his brother Arthur were evacuated to Swaledale during the war. He returned to Tyneside but after school went back to the dales to start farm work.

He is survived by Joan, four sons, three daughters, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren. His other son and daughter, apart from those already mentioned, are David and Susan.

His funeral service is being held tomorrow (Thurs) at 11.30am at St Giles Parish Church at Bowes.