A North-East man who was highly regarded for his involvement in conservation and community projects in Cleveland and North Yorkshire has died at the age of 43.

John Jewitt, of Great Ayton, worked for Cleveland Council for Voluntary Service and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV), after starting his career in the planning department of Stockton Borough Council.

Mr Jewitt was also a leading committee member of the North York Moors Association and the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust.

Hundreds of friends and colleagues attended his cremation service in Middlesbrough, followed by a Quaker ceremony at the Friends' meeting room in Great Ayton.

Northallerton-born Mr Jewitt worked for Stockton council for five years in the early 1980s, as a building control officer.

Until the late 1980s he worked for BTCV, helping environmental volunteers and establishing a Cleveland branch of the trust. He later joined Cleveland Council for Voluntary Service, helping community groups and eventually led the council's team of rural workers.

He leaves a wife, Julia and children Lizzie and Matthew.

Mrs Jewitt, who is expecting their third child this winter, said: "Through paid work or through being a volunteer, John helped all sorts of people. It was practical work that he really enjoyed and was particularly interested in trees and woodland conservation."