A CAMPAIGNER for a village "green" who died just four weeks short of the victory he worked for is likely to be remembered with a memorial on the site.

Stewart Gent, 48, suffered a heart attack last month, having been part of a community which battled for almost two years to save some land in their village from being fenced off.

Residents in The Hollow, near Howden-le-Wear, County Durham, even camped out on the half-acre land to stop neighbour Fred Wilson from fencing it off.

They believed the land to be a village green, while Mr Wilson has argued it belonged to his family, although he was unable to produce any title deeds.

A legal bill of £4,000 was racked up as they took their case to a public inquiry last December. Now, an independent barrister appointed by Durham County Council has ruled in their favour.

Now a memorial will remember leading campaigner Mr Gent, and his brother Barry, 50, who died eight months ago, also of a heart attack, having joined the fight, despite no longer living in The Hollow.

The Hollow Residents' Association plans to install a bench in their memory on the site once the victory is official.

Stewart Gent's widow, Jackie, said: "It seems a lot of this fell on our shoulders, because Stewart had lived here the longest.

"I think it's a lovely idea. When we got the news, I was obviously pleased, but it did take the edge off it that Stewart wasn't here."

Mrs Gent said thanks were due to former residents and other supporters who had donated £1,100 to the fund, to pay for legal fees