FORMER county analyst Frank Cooke Shenton has died at the age of 78.

Mr Shenton, of Newton Aycliffe, joined Durham County Council in June 1955, retiring in May 1982.

A county council spokesman said he visited his former workplace once a year and there were still four or five colleagues remaining who knew him well.

They described him as very dedicated, with his enthusiasm being transferred to those who worked with him.

Mr Shenton, whose funeral took place on Wednesday, left a wife, Dorothy, children Antony, Val and Tim, son and daughter-in-law Keith and Sheila, and grandchildren Nicola and Chris.