A SPECTACULAR funeral procession took to the streets last week to honour a well-known local man.

Mike Lowther, from Darlington, formerly of Bishop Auckland, died on Wednesday, September 5, after a short illness.

The procession, last Friday, started at Branksome Green, Whitby Way, before going to Darlington Crematorium, at West Cemetery, Carmel Road North.

Mr Lowther came from a travelling family.

His son, Michael, said: "He was a good man and very hard-working.

"We all miss him and we are still coming to terms with it.

"He was a great dad to all of us."

Mike Lowther leaves sons Michael, Mark, and daughter Marie, and grandchildren and great-grandchildren