TRIBUTES have been paid to a devoted family man and university manager who died following an eight month battle with a rare form of cancer.

Steve Johnson, 38, died at the end of last month after bravely fighting a pelvic cancer that attacks the muscles instead of vital organs. A former pupil of Durham City's Framwellgate Moor Comprehensive School, the father-of-two went on to become assistant director of estates and buildings at Durham University.

Despite a busy work schedule he was also director of the Durham Agency Against Crime and had started tutoring students before he died.

His wife, Julie, said he bore his disease with no complaints and had shown courage throughout.

Mr Johnson started his career with Northumbrian Water as an electrical engineer, managing the massive water treatment works at Broughton Scar, near Darlington.

He then graduated from Sunderland University with a BSE (Honours) in management, worked with Fenwick's department stores in Newcastle, before taking up the job at Durham University.

He leaves two children, Ashleigh, 11, and Alex, six, who live with their mother in Rickleton, near Chester-le-Street.

About 200 people attended his funeral service, held at St Mary's and St Cuthbert's Church, Chester-le-Street, on June 28.