A POPULAR and "lovely" teacher at a top North-East school has died from a brain tumour.

Einhard Robertson, 31, who lived in Darlington, was head of science at Durham Johnston School.

He died on Saturday, March 18, two months after he was diagnosed with the tumour.

His funeral will be held tomorrow, when teaching colleagues and 32 sixth-formers will be among the mourners.

Mr Robertson was originally from Hebburn, South Tyneside. He went to Hull University to study chemistry, where he met his wife-to-be, Nicky, before gaining a post-graduate teaching certificate.

The pair moved to Mrs Robertson's home town in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, before he moved to a school in nearby Maidenhead.

Mr Robertson returned to the North-East in September 2003 when he was appointed head of chemistry at Durham Johnston.

Last September, he was promoted to head of science.

Mrs Robertson said: "He was lovely. It is something that everybody says, but in his case it was true. He loved to make other people laugh both at school and home - everybody."

The pair married at The Morritt Arms, at Greta Bridge, near Barnard Castle, last July.

He had just returned to school from the Christmas break when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour after experiencing headaches.

Mrs Robertson said: "He was so brave. He was really positive right up until the Friday."

Mr Robertson was an active person who regularly went to the gym, and also took part in rock climbing and scuba diving. The couple had recently started climbing at Rock Antics, in Newton Aycliffe.

Durham Johnston headteacher Carolyn Roberts said children were holding their own service for Mr Robertson and had also signed a book of condolence.

She said: "He was great and he was very lively. He was very popular and he will be sadly missed."

Mr Robertson is survived by a sister, Jane, and parents Helen and Raymond.