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

Joan Smith was banned from attending Tony Blair's anniversary party last year, despite having been a party member for 65 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 President George Bush's visit to Sedgefield.

Close friend Gloria Wills said: "I think she was treated extremely insensitively and she was never the same person after that.

"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. She leaves a daughter, Roberta, son-in-law Ian and grandson Fraser.

Mrs Smith's funeral will be held in St Edmund's Church, Sedgefield, on Friday (apr 30) at 12.45pm.