TRIBUTES have been paid to Anne Wall, one of the North-East's leading horse experts, who has died at the age of 51.

She bred several champion horses as well as running riding and trekking stables with husband Robert at Raygill Farm, in Lartington, near Barnard Castle, County Durham.

She taught many children to ride, including scores of disabled children, and in latter days was teaching the children of her original pupils.

One of her proudest moments came when she qualified for the ridden mountain and moorland championships at Olympia in 1990 with Raygill Heather.

The foal of that pony was bought by the BBC and became the television Blue Peter pony, known to millions of young viewers for being ridden by many disabled children at special sessions.

Though ill this year, Mrs Wall was thrilled to win the hunter championship at Eggleston Show in Teesdale in September with Primitive Edition, one of the high quality horses she bred.

More than 400 mourners attended her funeral service at Barnard Castle Methodist Church and donations amounted to more than £1,800 for cancer research. The congregation included many riding enthusiasts.

Her husband, Robert, said yesterday: "I have received many tributes from people who knew Anne as a superb horsewoman as well as a friend. The fact that so many attended her funeral service, and donated such a large sum of money, shows how much she was admired and respected."

Mrs Wall, who attended Polam Hall School, in Darlington, and then gained degrees in business studies and French at Newcastle University, was also a Duke of Edinburgh gold award winner.

She leaves two sons, Peter and Adam.