STAFF at a North-East museum have paid tribute to former colleague Sir Richard Foster, who was found dead on a Dorset beach last week.

Sir Richard, who was chairman of the Heritage Lottery Fund's panel on museums and libraries, and Director of Museums and Galleries on Merseyside, began his career in the North-East in the 1960s.

Former colleagues at the Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, where he was assistant curator, praised his tireless work in saving it from threatened closure.

In 1998 he was called in by Culture Secretary Chris Smith when the museum was under threat after Durham County Council cut its grant aid.

He argued for the establishment of an independent board of trustees, to guide the museum out of trouble. One was set up in 1999.

Former curator Elizabeth Conran said: "I knew Sir Richard very well and he was a tireless worker who had a great affection for Bowes Museum.

"He was instrumental in guiding it through its financial difficulties and I'm sure he would have been involved with its future in some manner. He was very well liked and will be sorely missed."

Sir Richard had hoped to become a trustee in the future.

Dr Anne Allen, museum marketing director said: "We are shocked at his death, which has saddened us all. He did an awful lot for the museum and we had spoken to him last week about possible involvement with projects in the future."

After leaving Bowes, he was keeper of the Durham Light Infantry Museum, until 1970.

Sir Richard, who was knighted last year, leaves a widow Mary, and three children.