THE death occurred on Wednesday of Norman Passfield, a well-known east Durham news reporter.

Mr Passfield came to Blackhall in 1946, soon after he was demobbed from the RAF. He had served as an Air Crew Navigator and saw active service in Europe in the last war.

He was president of the Blackhall branch of the RAFA for 23 years and served on the organisation's Durham region executive committee.

He and his wife, Florence, had moved to Blackhall, from Bearpark, where Mr Passfield took the job of reporter for the Durham Chronicle.

He was also a correspondent for newspapers including The Northern Echo, Hartlepool Mail and Sunderland Echo, and was a life member of the National Institute of Journalists.

A lifelong and enthusiastic Methodist, he was an active member of Blackhall Methodist Church, where his funeral is to take place on Monday.

Mr and Mrs Passfield had recently celebrated their diamond wedding.

Mr Passfield also leaves a son, Brian, and daughter, Susan, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.