ONE of a south Durham community's oldest residents has died at the age of 101.

Former miner Tom Brown, from Leeholme, near Bishop Auckland, died in hospital last week from an industrial disease caused by long years of exposure to coal dust.

He was 14 when he started at Leasingthorne pit in 1919 and worked underground until he retired 46 years later.

Mining was in his blood and he and his younger brother Jack learnt the value of hard work from their pitman father.

Born in Thornley, east Durham, Mr Brown moved with his family from mine to mine around the Durham coalfield.

He had lived alone since his wife, Ellen, died 26 years ago and managed his own home until recently with the help of his family, including great nieces Jane Bateman and Ann Hardy.

His proudest moment came on his 100th birthday when he received a message of good wishes from the Queen.

Yesterday, Durham Coroner Andrew Tweddle recorded a verdict that Mr Brown died from an industrial disease.

On his 100th birthday, on Christmas Eve 2004, Mr Brown said: "Conditions down the pit were very bad. I went down at an early age and you couldn't breathe for the dust."

A funeral service is due to be held at Durham crematorium at 10am today.