tribute was paid this week to a long-serving member of the force who died on Sunday, aged 86.

Jim Best was a police cadet for two years before embarking on 32-years service as an officer with the old County Durham force.

Mr Best also served with the Merchant Navy during the Second World War, surviving many voyages as a 'watcher' and gunner on trans-Atlantic convoys.

After the war he resumed his police career until retiring as an officer with the Durham force on a Friday, in 1969.

But he returned to the same traffic administration job, as a civilian employee, the following Monday.

Mr Best remained in that post for 13 years, taking his stint on the payroll to 45 years, before finally retiring aged 65.

But the Best name remained in the force as son David followed in his father's footsteps, and joined up in October 1967.

He retired in October 2001, bringing an end to 68 years of policing.

Born in High Spen, west of Gateshead, Mr Best senior lived for many years in Burnopfield until 1988, when he moved to Newton Hall to be nearer his son's family.

David said his father was 'of the old school' and had tremendous re-call of events dating back decades.

He also said his father remained extremely fit, preferring to walk rather than take public transport, until his health deteriorated in recent months.

David said: "When I was based in Chester-le-Street he would walk from Newton Hall to Chester-le-Street to do his shopping at the market and I would bring him back. If you complained of having a cold or being under the weather, he would say the best way to get rid of it was to walk it off."

Father and son were often seen playing darts and dominoes at Bede Lodge Catholic Club, in Newton Hall.

Mr Best snr, whose wife Ann died 27 years ago, also leaves a daughter, Maureen, four grand-daughters and great granddaughter, Olivia.

The funeral service and cremation was planned for this Friday at 3pm at Durham Crematorium.