THE family of a popular dales man who set up a charity following his sudden death have kept his memory alive by giving away more than £20,000 to local good causes.

The family of Stephen Mitchell were devastated when the 52-year-old died after suffering a heart-attack in 2010.

And in a bid to spare other families the trauma of losing a loved one, they set up the Stephen Mitchell Memorial Fund which acted as a lasting legacy for the retired firefighter as they began raising funds to install life-saving defibrillators throughout the dales.

The Fund was set up by his wife, Christine, brothers, Andy and Nigel and mother, Lillian, and has helped install seven defibrillators, including one outside the family business, the J.Raine & Son hardware store, in Middleton-in-Teesdale.

It was used just three months later to save the life of 52-year-old Gary Hutchinson, who also had a heart attack but survived thanks to the equipment and now takes part in the fund’s annual clay pigeon fundraiser.

The other defibrillators can be found in Newbiggin, Landon Beck and Holwick, Lunedale and High Force.

Now in it’s seventh year, the group are gearing up for the annual Stephen Mitchell Memorial clay pigeon shoot which will be held at the family farm at Stotley Grange, Stanhope Road, Middleton-in-Teesdale, on Saturday, July 29.

However they have also supported schools and other charities by donating £20,000 to local projects since the Fund was set up, and £3,500 in 2017 alone.

Projects which have benefitted include the Middleton in Bloom group to help with competitions; Cotherstone Primary School with a computer robots programme and redecorating the village hall.

Grants have also been given to the local Farm Watch and Barnard Castle Boxing Club.

Mr Mitchell’s brother, Nigel, said the his brother was a community man who ran the corner shop and “liked to see the village look nice” so the Fund was a way of keeping his memory alive.

He also encouraged groups to apply for funding by writing to the farm.

The shoot will run alongside a family-fun day and raffle prizes are welcomed.

For more information visit stephenmitchell-memorial-shoot.co.uk or find them on Facebook.