FIREFIGHTERS past and present joined the family and friends of a leading firefighter to give an emotional farewell to their colleague yesterday.

Assistant Divisional Officer Iain Davison, the 45-year-old commander at Darlington fire station, died of a heart attack last Saturday after 26 years' service with County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue.

His coffin was taken from the station he ran to St Andrew's Church, near his Spennymoor home, on the back of the 1960s vintage engine he had been refurbishing.

It was then carried by colleagues from various periods of his career through a guard of honour consisting of more than 200 serving firefighters, some dressed in uniforms dating back to the mid-20th Century, to the church doors.

The procession was led by Firefighter Tony John, bearing the brigade standard, whose Darlington station colleagues were all able to attend thanks to cover from other parts of the county.

More than 300 people, including representatives from Durham Constabulary and the ambulance service, crammed into the church, while a further 300 were estimated to have been left outside.

ADO Davison's son, Phillip, a brigade reserve based in Spennymoor, wore his father's uniform, while his daughter, Rebecca, proudly wore the long service and good conduct medal he received from the Queen in 1996.

They were joined by ADO Davison's wife, Sharon, and youngest son, Simon.

Sub Officer Brett Clayton, of Darlington Fire Station, gave a tearful tribute to his friend of 21 years, and told how he and Phillip Davison had been with him, helping a friend build a fence, when the tragedy happened.

"His commitment to work in the brigade was overwhelming. His involvement in the brigade made him many friends in the UK and throughout Europe," he said.

SO Clayton said the fundraising efforts of ADO Davison, particularly for the Fire Service Benevolent Fund and which earned him the Ridley Trophy in 1990, would be very difficult to replace.

"Outside of work, he was totally committed to his family and, as a family, they always came to the aid of their friends," he said. "Even on that tragic day, Iain and his boys were helping a friend."

The Reverend Canon Neville Baker, who led the ceremony, said: "Iain died doing a good deed to help a friend - not the first fireman to do that by a long way and, sadly, he won't be the last.