THE FUNERAL was held last week for a well-known civic campaigner following his sudden death on his return home after a night at his local pub.

Friends and fellow pressure group members gathered for the funeral of Tom Lay at Durham Crematorium on Friday.

He died at the University Hospital of North Durham after being taken ill at his Gilesgate home.

It is understood 71-year-old Mr Lay suffered a heart attack shortly after arriving home following a night out at the Woodman Inn.

Mr Lay was an active member of the City of Durham Trust, and in residents' groups in the Claypath and Gilesgate areas. He took part in many campaigns against planning and licensing applications in the city.

Trust chairman Roger Cornwell said the sad news of Tom's death came as a surprise to trustees.

"I'm told by people who saw him in the Woodman that he seemed in good form and by all accounts he had an enjoyable night.

"The last time I saw him was only recently in court when he was opposing a pub conversion plan. He was very active member of the trust and served at least twice as a trustee. Tom had an encyclopaedic knowledge of Durham and who owned what in the city.

"He is from a long-standing family in Durham. They have been in that house in Gilesgate since the 1850s.

"He was very keen on local affairs and very concerned that people in power did not take advantage of ordinary people. That's why he was so active. It's a great pity that he died without probably realising how well liked he was."

Mr Cornwell said Mr Lay performed National Service in the RAF and later worked for the gas board.

He went on to work for the Government Export Credit Guarantee Department, before turning to teaching.

His last job before retirement was as a business studies teacher at Wolsingham Comprehensive School.