FRIENDS, colleagues and students are mourning the death of leading Durham academic Professor Ian Taylor, at the age of 56.

Prof Taylor was a distinguished figure in British criminology who had an international reputation as a sociologist.

A former Durham student, he worked at several universities in the UK and Canada before returning to Durham in 1998 as principal at Van Mildert College. Illness led him to step down last year.

He once said he felt a strong affinity with Van Mildert as he "watched it being built" when he was a modern history student in 1962.

Sir Kenneth Calman, vice-chancellor of Durham University, said: "We have lost a most dedicated colleague.

"Ian Taylor was a much respected figure both in his academic field and on the social and pastoral side, caring for students as the head of one of our larger colleges."

Prof Taylor's research interests covered several areas of sociology and criminology and he was in great demand as an advisor.

He acted as an advisor to the Government on gun control in the wake of the Dunblane school massacre.

Among his other posts, he also served on UN and European committees on the international traffic in people.

He was author/editor of nine books and a regular contributor to the national media, including the panel of BBC Radio Five Live's The Other Side of Midnight.

He is survived by his partner, sociologist Ruth Jamie-son, and two daughters