A DATE has been confirmed for the funeral of popular North Yorkshire teacher, Elizabeth World, who died suddenly last week, aged 51.

The service will be held at Gilling West Church, at 1.30pm, on Thursday.

Friends and colleagues who knew her are welcome to attend.

As headteacher at the time, Mrs World was the leading light in the campaign to save Gilling West's tiny primary school from the axe in 1994.

The campaign proved unsuccessful, with the Government confirming its closure just before it celebrated its 150th anniversary.

Mrs World continued to teach, and was working with children with special needs at a school in Stockton, the week before her death.

She was a former Mayoress of Richmond, where she lived with husband Clive.

He is also a teacher, and serves as a Liberal Democrat on the district council.

The couple have four children Stephen, 20, Christopher, 17, Philip, 13, and 11-year-old Rebecca.