A COUNCILLOR plans to follow in the footsteps of a North-East Labour and union hero.

Miners' leader Peter Lee - the County Durham new town was named after him - was the first Labour leader of Durham County Council, whose involvement with the miners' union movement has ensured that his memory is preserved through miners' banners.

The Trimdon Grange-born campaigner, who died in 1935, also believed in the need to provide clean drinking water for the North-East.

He was the first chairman of the Sunderland and South Shields Water Company - now part of Northumbrian Water - and was instrumental in the Burnhope Reservoir, in Weardale, which provided clean supplies to the immediate area and Wearside.

Councillor David Taylor-Gooby, Easington District Council cabinet member for the environment, plans to do a 50-mile sponsored walk from the reservoir to Trimdon Grange.

He will make the trek on the weekend of April 13 and 14 to raise money for the St John Ambulance Blue Light Appeal, which his wife, Maureen, is championing in her role as Mayor of Peterlee.

The appeal aims to raise funds to buy a new ambulance for the medical charity.

Coun Taylor-Gooby said: "Peter Lee's commitment to clean drinking water made a contribution to the health of local people.

"I'm proud to be able to continue that legacy by raising vital cash for another worthy health cause."

Northumbrian Water is backing his effort. The company's head of communications, John Mowbray, said: "People today take it for granted that they can turn on the tap and get safe drinking water, but that wasn't the case in Peter Lee's day.

"Northumbrian Water is the modern-day custodian of the clean water crusade he began. Water is vital for health and so is the work of the St John Ambulance.

"Northumbrian Water is delighted to be involved with this worthwhile appeal."