TRIBUTES have been paid to former county councillor and community stalwart Len James, who has died at the age of 81.

Mr James stepped aside as a Durham county councillor after representing the Craghead and South Moor area for 26 years.

He was retired director of operations on the trust board of Durham County Ambulance Service.

His close friend and former councillor, Martin Quinn, said last night: "Len will be sadly missed.

"During his long tenure of office, Len was a doer, not just an orator.

"If there was a campaign to be fought, he was always at the forefront.

"Len strongly opposed opencast mining and battled against any tampering with the South Moor hospital.

"From 1984-85, he was chairman of the committee to raise funds for miners' food parcels."

Born in Norton-on-Tees in 1922, Mr James joined the Labour party on his 21st birthday in 1943 .

For some years, he was manager of a Fabian bookshop and secretary of Fabian publications.

He later served as chairman of the Fulham and Hammersmith Fabian Society and chairman of the London Regional Council of Fabian Societies.

Mr James was parliamentary candidate for Farnham in 1951.

He emigrated to Canada in 1953 and became public relations and marketing director for a crown corporation in Saskatchewan.

Mr James returned to England in 1963 and moved back to the North-East, where he served on Durham County Council from 1975.

There will be a Humanist Service in Craghead Village Hall, at 1.30pm, on Friday.

Friends have been invited to the Punch Bowl for refreshments following tributes in the village hall.