THE family of a North-East GP are searching for a mystery mourner who has been leaving flowers on his grave for 40 years.

Dr John Leslie was a respected doctor who served Shildon, County Durham, and the surrounding area for 20 years, from 1946.

He died after a heart attack in 1966, aged 52, and was buried in South Church Cemetery, near the family home in Coronation.

After his death, his wife moved to Scotland, where she died in 1992. Her ashes were interred in his grave.

His three children live in other areas in the country, but visit his grave when they can.

His daughter, Marjorie Bradley, who lives in West Yorkshire, said: Every time we visit, there is always some form of floral tribute there, and when I was there last week I noticed someone had left some artificial flowers."

Mrs Bradley thinks it may have been a former patient of her father's who has never forgotten his kindness.

She said: "My father was a very gentle, caring GP. He was well-respected by his fellow GPs. I was only 19 when he died, but I know there was some sort of collection in his memory and a ward at the Lady Eden Hospital, in Bishop Auckland, was named after him."

Mrs Bradley said she had spoken to other members of the family and friends but nobody knows who has been leaving the tributes.

She said: "I would very much like to know who it is who still kindly remembers after all these years. I would really like to have the opportunity to thank them.

"It is really nice to know that when we cannot be there, there is someone out there who cares enough to do this."

* Are you the mystery mourner? Contact The Northern Echo on (01325) 381313.