A CATHOLIC community is mourning the death of its parish priest.

Father Christopher Keating, the parish priest of St William's Church at Dormanstown, near Redcar, died at the town's Stead Hospital on Friday. He was 86 years old and still serving as the parish priest.

Father Keating came from Cashir, County Tipperary, and studied for the priesthood at St John's College, Waterford. He was ordained in 1942 and transferred to Middlesbrough Diocese where he served in various parishes before coming to St William's in 1972.

A spokesman from the Diocese of Middlesbrough described him as a deeply spiritual man. "His dedication and loyalty both to his parishioners and to the larger diocesan family could never be questioned.

"Nothing was ever too much trouble and his response was always immediate, even during times when he was not in the best of health."

The spokesman added: "Father Keating was very tenacious and always saw things he undertook through to the end. He had an alert mind and was very well read.

"He loved a good debate and could be very incisive in his comments - he got to the heart of the matter via the shortest route!"

Father Keating's body was received into St William's Church yesterday. The funeral Mass will take place at 11am today and he will be buried in Redcar Cemetery.