FORMER colleagues have paid tribute to Rod Griffith, the one-time face of Tyne Tees Television, who has died aged 74.

The housewives' favourite was a television newsreader for 21 years before his retirement in 1985 and his face was known to hundreds of thousands of viewers.

The suave presenter was born in Wales and served in the Royal Marines. He also worked as an actor, including appearances in Emergency Ward Ten, and a model before turning to television.

He joined Tyne Tees in 1964 and quickly established himself as a firm favourite.

Presenter and reporter Stuart McNeil, who was a colleague of Mr Griffith for nine years, said: "He was very smooth, the ultimate professional and totally, totally charming.

"He could charm a bird out of a tree and the women used to adore him because he made them feel a million dollars. He'll be greatly missed."

In later years, it was revealed that Mr Griffith was the unlikely inspiration behind foul-mouthed Viz cartoon creation Roger Mellie The Man On The Telly.

Mr McNeil said: "When that was first put to him he was a little bit doubtful, but later on he began to enjoy the notoriety."

Mr Griffith was a family man who enjoyed golf, squash, football and even kick-boxing until just a few months ago. He also enjoyed running and raised money for children's cancer charities.

Mr Griffith, who died on Monday, a couple of weeks after an operation on a brain tumour, has asked for his ashes to be scattered from the top of Mount Snowdon. He leaves a wife, Dorothy, and two sons, Thomas and Dion.

The family has requested no flowers, but donations can be made to the Newcastle General Hospital Brainwave Trust Fund at any branch of Barclays Bank, quoting account number 30204749 and sort code 20-62-09.