THE funeral will be held today of a well-known man from the Chester-le-Street area who died three months short of his 100th birthday.

Ernest Williams was a volunteer for the Chester-le-Street Citizens Advice Bureau, organised blood donor sessions at Barley Mow and was secretary of the North-East Industrial Society.

Mr Williams, of Nettlesworth, was born in Cape Town, South Africa.

During the Second World War he worked in munitions in the UK and was later taken on to develop the British Oxygen Company plant at Birtley.

He worked there from 1951 and was personnel manager when he retired in 1969.

He was a motor sports enthusiast and was a member of Durham Automobile Club and the Tynemouth and District Motor Club and an RAF scrutineer at rallies and events.

He and his wife, Margaret, who celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary last year, had a spell in South Africa after he retired but returned in 1994.

Mr Williams leaves his widow, children Heather, Iain and Geoffrey and three grandchildren.

His son Geoffrey said: "He was active until just before the winter but needed 24-hour care in the Durham House care home.

"He died very peacefully, he just faded away. He would have been 100 on April 12.''

Mr Williams' ashes will be scattered on Table Mountain, near Cape Town.

His funeral will be held at Chester-le-Street Parish Church at 9.30am, followed by cremation in Durham.