COLLEAGUES turned out in force to pay their last respects to a popular ambulance chief.

Retired and serving members of the Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service (Tenyas) attended the funeral of assistant general manager John Knaggs, at St Joseph and St Cuthbert's RC Church, Loftus, Saltburn, this week.

Mr Knaggs, who was 64, died at his Loftus home on March 9, after a long illness.

The ceremony was conducted by Loftus parish priest Father Jack McKeever, assisted by Tenyas chaplain the Reverend David King.

Father McKeever described Mr Knaggs as "a true gentleman and a tireless worker within the local community".

He said: "He was a highly-respected colleague, guide and man of integrity.

"He had a profound effect on the service. He was an inspiration - committed, fair and firm. He had a lovely sense of humour and a fund of marvellous jokes."

After the service, Tenyas chief executive Jayne Barnes said: "He will be sadly missed by all of us.

"He was a well-respected, thoroughly professional ambulance officer, with a great human touch and we offer our deepest sympathy to his loved ones."

Service improvement manager and long-time friend Jim Hardman said: "He was held in the highest regard, right across the service. He was a one-off, a friend to all who met him, and he will be greatly missed, particularly by those in the Carlin How, Redcar, York and Scarborough areas."

Mr Knaggs joined the then Cleveland Ambulance service in 1973, starting at Redcar before moving to Carlin How.

He leaves a widow, Betty, daughter, Libby, a receptionist at Loftus Surgery, and son, John, a sergeant in the Grenadier Guards.