A MAN described as an icon of a North-East town has had a bench unveiled in his memory.

Tommy Sharpe, who was known to hundreds of Bishop Auckland residents for his generosity and good nature, died in January, aged 80.

Now, at a ceremony outside the Church of St Anne, in the town’s Market Place, friends gathered to see the bench unveiled.

About £480 was raised by members of the public to pay for the bench and plaque following his death.

Mr Sharpe spent most of his working life employed by the former Wear Valley District Council as a labourer and as an attendant in Bishop Auckland public toilets.

For more than 20 years, he delivered The Advertiser, The Northern Echo’s sister paper, to the shops and businesses he frequented, for no reward.

Councillor Sam Zair, who organised the bench, said: “In my opinion, Tommy was an icon of this town. Everybody knew him and spoke to him and he had so much respect.

“He always had a smile on his face and said hello even if he didn’t know you.

“It was such a shock to everyone in the town when Tommy passed away. We all loved Tommy. He was everyone’s right-hand man.

“He truly is sorely missed.

“Someone came into my cafe after he died and said we needed to do something in memory of Tommy, so I said I would do my best to get a bench. We didn’t even need to ask for donations – people just kept giving me money.

The market traders gave us £90 alone.

“If he could see the bench now, he would be absolutely over the moon.

Mr Sharpe moved from Folkestone to County Durham during the war when his parents separated, and he and his mother, Elsie Osbourne, returned to live in her native Ferryhill.

Mr Sharpe then went to live with his grandparents, but when his grandfather died, he was moved to a children’s home before settling in Bishop Auckland when he was in his early 20s.

Coun Zair would like to thank the Church of St Anne, Durham County Council and everyone who donated money.