PUPILS and staff at a Darlington school are mourning the death of a former teacher.

Valerie Hall, 56, died in hospital on Sunday after a long battle against cancer.

Last year, Mrs Hall was forced to retire through ill health from Polam Hall School, in Darlington, where she was deputy headteacher at the junior school.

She started her teaching career at the school in the early 1970s and was loved and respected by pupils and colleagues.

Angela Foster, Polam Hall junior school headteacher, said Mrs Hall, who leaves a husband, Terry, will be greatly missed.

"She was a dedicated teacher and during her 28 years at Polam Hall the children became a huge part of her extended family," she said.

"Our junior school production of Joseph and his Technicolor Dream Coat was performed in her honour, because it was a great favourite of Val's and one which she had hoped to do before she retired."

Children from the school will sing Any Dream Will Do, a song from the production, at Mrs Hall's funeral at St Michael's Church, Heighington, at 2.30pm today.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be sent to Cancer Research, St Teresa's Hospice or Ward 34 at Darlington Memorial Hospital, c/o Seaton Leng and Son, Bondgate, Darlington, DL3 7JR.