A RESPECTED and popular member of The Advertiser staff has died after a lengthy illness.

Valerie Morley, of Teesdale Avenue, Darlington, died last Wednesday of a brain tumour.

Colleagues in the special features department, of which she was deputy editor, described her as 'irreplaceable'.

Mrs Morley joined the Advertiser's sister paper, the Evening Despatch, Darlington, in 1965 as the editor's personal assistant.

She joined the special features department in 1988, writing for The Northern Echo and Darlington and Stockton Times, as well as the Advertiser series.

Neil Richardson, special features editor, said: "She was an irreplaceable member of the department and will be sorely missed."

Mrs Morley leaves a husband, Howard, daughter, Emma and father, Harry.

The funeral took place on Monday at St Andrew's Church, in Haughton, followed by interment in West Cemetery, Darlington.