the former chief executive of the North York Moors National Park, David Arnold-Foster, has died of cancer at the age of 46.

Two years ago, after leaving the Helmsley-based park authority, Mr Arnold-Forster became chief executive of English Nature, the Govern- ment's nature conservation advisory body.

Mr Arnold-Forster, who lived at Scalby, near Scarborough, had planned to return to work in the next few months.

He was appointed head of the National Park Authority in 1994, managing the change to independent local government status following the Environment Act of 1995.

He was chairman of the Hill Task Force and helped identify ways for the Government to assist English hill farmers develop sustainable enterprises in the uplands.

In his earlier career, Mr Arnold-Forster worked for the Ministry of Defence in arms control, and as private secretary to Armed Forces Ministers.

He later worked in the property business in London and Yorkshire before returning to the MoD in 1990 where he was involved with the successful negotiations to conclude the ban on chemical weapons and other chemical and biological arms control and inspection work.

Mr Arnold-Forster played a key-role in Bosnia in 1992 with the British contingent of the United Nations forces. He was awarded the OBE in 1994.

The chairman of English Nature, Sir Martin Doughty, said " It is a cruel blow that someone with so much to offer has died so young."

He leaves a widow, Anita. A private funeral is to be held and a memorial service will be announced later.