THE family of murdered North-East aid workers are opposed to the death penalty imposed on their killers in Africa.

Richard and Enid Eyeington were shot dead by anti-western Islamic rebels in the breakaway east African nation of Somaliland, in 2003.

The attack took place at the compound of a school where 62-year-old Mr Eyeington took over as headteacher in September 2002, in the village of Sheikh, 87 miles north-east of the capital Hargeisa.

Mr Eyeington, from Pelton Fell, and his 61-year-old wife, originally from Fencehouses, both near Chester-le-Street, worked in Africa for more than 30 years, bringing up their children, Mark and Louise, on the continent.

Members of their families flew to Kenya for a memorial service for the couple and their children scattered their ashes over their beloved Swaziland, in southern Africa, where they spent many years working in a school.

Their four killers were among a group of eight Islamic radicals sentenced to death last week for their part in the attack on the Eyeingtons and other similar atrocities committed as part of a violent campaign against westerners, in Somaliland.

Mr Eyeington's sister, Joyce, now living in Nottingham, said she felt her brother and his wife, both committed Christians, would not have wanted anyone else to die.

She said: "None of the family are happy with this. I am very much against it. I'm pleased they found someone for the murders, but I don't agree with the death sentence.

"I know my brother and sister-in-law would have been against it as well. Richard and Enid would both feel very strongly.

"They would not want these people to die. Besides, it doesn't bring them back, does it?"

She said that she knew both the Eyeington's children were also opposed to the death penalty.

But she added: "It's the law of their land and we can't change it, but I don't welcome it. Men are going to die.

"It's sufficient they have been caught, and maybe there can be some closure for us."