A FARMER and businessman who founded a North-East radio station has died at the age of 72.

Tim Jackson, who lived in Guisborough, east Cleveland, was an active Conservative and ran a commercial property business.

He died last week in Whitby Hospital after suffering from Parkinson's disease and other complications.

Mr Jackson was the son of Darlington butcher Charles W Jackson and was brought up in the town, before graduating in agricultural science from Newcastle University.

In 1954, he moved into Park Farm, Dunsdale, near Guisborough, where he farmed for more than 30 years.

He was also chairman of the local National Farmers' Union and founder of the North York Moors Seed Growers' Association.

While chairman of Redcar Conservative Association, he stood for parliament in the Don Valley constituency of South Yorkshire, but was unsuccessful.

When he retired from farming, in 1986, he moved to Castleton and represented the Danby area at both local and county council level.

His commercial radio interests led him to found and become chairman of Radio Tees, which later became 96.6 tfm and Magic 1170.

Mr Jackson was best known in the Guisborough area for buying and developing more than two dozen commercial properties in the town centre during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, through his company Langbaurgh Properties.

He leaves a widow, Gillian, four children and four grandchildren.