TRIBUTES have been paid by councillors to two council workers who died recently.

The Darlington Borough Council employees, care home worker Irene Williamson, 58, and Lynne McKie, social worker in childcare, died in June and August, respectively.

Councillor Bill Dixon, cabinet member for social services, told a cabinet meeting: "It is sad when people die in service.

In the case of Irene, it came at the end of a long illness. Both of them were people I got to know during my mayoral year.

"Lynne was a trainee with the department in the year 2000 and she liked it so much she wanted to make a career in it. She is virtually irreplaceable. She was totally committed to child protection and worked over and above the call of duty."