POLICE officers past and present will pay tribute to a long-serving member of the force at his funeral on Friday.

Jim Best died peacefully on Sunday at the age of 86.

He was a police cadet for two years before he gave 45 years' service with the Durham force.

He also served with the Merchant Navy during the Second World War, and survived many voyages as a watcher and gunner on transatlantic convoys.

After the war, he resumed his police career until he retired from the Durham force in 1969.

He returned to the same traffic administration job as a civilian only three days later. He remained in the post for 13 years, before he retired aged 65.

The Best name remained in the force because his son, David, followed in his footsteps, joining in October 1967.

Born in High Spen, west of Gateshead, Jim lived for many years in Burnopfield until 1988, when he moved to Newton Hall, Durham, to be nearer David's family.

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

Jim, whose wife, Ann, died 27 years ago, is survived by David and a daughter, Maureen, four grand-daughters and a great grand-daughter.

A funeral service and cremation will take place at Durham Crematorium at 3pm.