A MAN was charged today with murdering a devoted community activist in the street.

Classroom assistant Gillian Raine, 53, was the victim of a sickening attack outside her home in Coleridge Gardens, Dipton, County Durham, yesterday morning as she made her way to work.

She was a much-loved and highly respected member of the close-knit community in the former mining village.

Durham Police said Gary Thompson, 24, of Moorland View, Castleside, Consett, has been charged with her murder and will appear before Peterlee Magistrates Court in the morning.

Her family released a statement which said: "Gillian was a loving and much-loved daughter, sister and mother who will be greatly missed by her family and everyone who knew her.

"Gillian has devoted the last 12 years to setting up and running the out-of-hours school club for children from Dipton Colliery School and the surrounding area.

The community of Dipton has been made poorer by her loss."

Paramedics were called to the scene at 7.15am and battled to save her life, but she died in hospital an hour later.

Police said a number of potential murder weapons were recovered from the crime scene.

A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said Mrs Raine was a well-respected member of the community.

She said: "She was a very respectable, quiet woman who did a lot of good work in the community.

Her family will miss her terribly."