TRIBUTES have been paid to a North-East construction boss and school governor who died on New Year's Day.

Bob Carnell, 59, of Darlington-based Carnell Construction, was described last night as a tireless worker for education in the town.

Mr Carnell, of Piercebridge, was chairman of governors at the new £35m Haughton Education Village and former chairman of governors at Beaumont Hill Special School.

He was also chairman of the Gateway Club, in Salters Lane, for children with learning difficulties, and ran Carnell Coach and Horses.

His son, Andrew, 31, a partner in Carnell Construction, told The Northern Echo he expected more than 1,000 people to attend the funeral.

"The amount of phone calls I have had has been colossal," he said. "He was very well respected. Nobody ever had a bad word to say about him.

"He was a complete joker, but there was a serious side to him as well. He couldn't say no to anything."

Mr Carnell, whose daughter Suzanne, 34, has learning difficulties, became chairman of Mayfair Special School in 1985 and oversaw its amalgamation with Salters Lane and Glebe Road special schools to become Beaumont Hill.

Recently, he has led the amalgamation of Beamount, Springfield Primary and Haughton community schools in the education village project.

Dame Dela Smith, headteacher of the education village, which is due to open at Easter, said: "To be honest, we are numb. We are absolutely devastated at school. It's been such a tremendous shock.

"He was a unique man - the most loyal, the most hardworking, most generous, and had the biggest dose of common sense.

"He was one of those people who just worked tirelessly behind the scenes."

Mr Carnell was taken ill shortly before Christmas and suffered a series of heart attacks at Darlington Memorial Hospital. He was transferred to James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, where he died on Sunday.

He leaves behind his children, wife Heather, 60, parents Muriel and Harry, and brother Dave.

Councillor Chris McEwan, Darlington Borough Council's member for children's services, said: "He was an outstanding school governor and his passing is a terrible loss."

The funeral is on Monday at 12.45pm, at St James the Great Church, Albert Hill.