TRIBUTES have been paid to an Aycliffe Angel who has died at the age of 82.

Bessie Liddle worked at the munitions factory at Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, during the war, but was better known for her role in the community of Sunniside, near Tow Law.

Mrs Liddle and her husband, Jimmy, ran the off-licence and newsagents in the village for nearly 30 years, before retiring in 1990.

Born in Garden Terrace, Sunniside, Mrs Liddle lived with her parents Joe and Ada Marriott at The Sun Inn, now The Comedian.

She married Jimmy, who was a leading air mechanic in the Royal Navy, at St Thomas's Church, Stanley, in 1944.

The couple remained devoted to each other and started their business partnership in 1952, running the Sun Inn in the village, before taking over the off-licence in 1963.

Mr Liddle said: "She was very well known in the village. She has been a business woman for more than 50 years - since she was 19. Everybody has been very good. I cannot say anything wrong about her. She was beautiful."

Mrs Liddle had been ill for some time, but died suddenly on Thursday at her home.

As well as her husband, she leaves two sons, Malcolm and Kevin, and their wives, Anne and Iris, along with three grandchildren, Craig, Nicola and Andrew.

Her funeral takes place tomorrow at St Thomas's Church, at 11.30am. Friends are asked to meet at the church.