ONE of the North-East's leading charity workers has died from a suspected heart attack.

Walter Wilkinson, 49, an Independent Methodist Minister, died at his home in Spennymoor, County Durham, on Saturday night.

He founded the North-East Helpline Trust ten years ago and Holly House Hostel in Teesside in 1994.

He worked tirelessly to help disadvantaged people and said he set up Holly House to give the homeless and people with alcohol problems in Teesside somewhere to go. He also ran three soup kitchens in Newcastle and one each in Middlesborough and Stockton.

His daughter, Leanne, said he just wanted to help those who did not have a chance on their own.