A FORMER Durham University lecturer, who won acclaim for his revolutionary ideas in geology, has died at the age of 71.

Professor Michael House was appointed at Durham University even before he had graduated from Downing College, Cambridge, in 1954.

He spent four years lecturing at Durham before moving on to Oxford University to specialise in palaeontology.

Prof House went on to become Dean of Science and Pro-Vice Chancellor at Hull University, and an emeritus professor of geology at Southampton University.

He developed advanced ideas on the geological timescale and applied his theories to rock formations in Europe, North Africa and Western Australia.

Prof House, who was married with a son and daughter, died in his home town of Weymouth, Dorset.