A LABOUR Party stalwart who was snubbed for speaking out against the war in Iraq has died aged 81.

Last night, members of Joan Smith's family spoke of their anger after the pensioner was banned from attending Tony Blair's anniversary party last year, despite having been a Labour Party member for 66 years.

Mrs Smith spoke out against the conflict on national television and took part in anti-war demonstrations in her home village of Sedgefield, County Durham.

Despite being deeply wounded by the snub, Mrs Smith stuck to her beliefs and took part in protests against US President George Bush's visit to Sedgefield last year.

Close friend Gloria Wills said Mrs Smith had remained a party member, but said: "I think she was treated extremely insensitively and she was never the same person after that.

"She was a Labour member for 66 years and I think her heart and soul had been in the party all those years.

"She was a woman of strong opinions and all who knew her understood that. She was an amazing woman and an amazing character."

Mrs Smith, who died on Friday, was also well-known for her work in the Sedgefield community.

A former legal secretary, Mrs Smith was a founder member of the Sedgefield Local History Society; was involved with the Sedgefield Players drama group and the Friends of Hardwick Park; and was a stalwart of Sedgefield's town-twinning association.

Helen Clifford-Brown, a committee member on the history society, said Mrs Smith's anti-war views may have dated back to her childhood in London when she experienced the Blitz.

She said: "She was very supportive, although she often had strong opinions and fought for them with passion, but she could accept that other people might disagree. I really admired her and I'll miss her."

Born and bred a true Cockney, Mrs Smith moved to the North-East in the 1960s where she continued to campaign for the Labour Party.

He family said they did not want a tribute from the Labour Party in view of the way she was treated.

Mrs Smith leaves a daughter, Roberta, son-in-law Ian and grandson Fraser.

Her funeral will be held in St Edmund's Church, Sedgefield, on Friday at 12.45pm.