A FAMILY has been dealt a double blow after brothers Stanley and Fred Stobart died only a few hours apart.

Stanley, who was 78 and a former council foreman, died in the early hours of Saturday at his home in Copley, near Barnard Castle, County Durham.

Fred, who was 77 and a father of eight, died later the same day in hospital. He was a farmer at Stotley Hall Farm, Middleton-in-Teesdale, six miles from the home of his brother.

Stanley's widow, Jean, said yesterday: "I felt dreadfully sad when he died and the whole family did too, but it was worse for everyone when Fred passed on so soon afterwards.

"We are a large close family, so everyone was affected."

The brothers, who often visited each other and loved to sit chatting about the old days, had both been unwell for some time.

Stanley, who had three children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, was in hospital at Bishop Auckland for a while and was visited on several occasions by Fred.

But he asked to be allowed home to spend his last days being looked after by Jean.

Fred, a widower, went to see him for the last time a fortnight ago, but then became unwell himself and was admitted to Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Fred's funeral will be at St Mary's Church, Middleton, tomorrow, at 11am.

Stanley's funeral will be at St John's Church, Lynesack, at 12.30pm, on Friday.