A TALENTED musician who played his unusual instrument in productions featuring stars of the stage an screen has died at the age of 83.

John Morton, from Darlington, played the ondes Martenot, an early electronic instrument known for its eerie, wavering notes.

Mr Morton died in Rydal Care Home on October 10 and friends are invited to attend his funeral, at 9.15am, on Thursday (October 23), at Darlington Crematorium.

He performed with the London Symphony Orchestra in its 1970 production of Joan of Arc, starring Mia Farrow and Michael Gambon, at the Royal Albert Hall.

Mr Morton worked extensively in theatre throughout his life, appearing on the BBC children's show Blue Peter and working with the American film composer Elmer Bernstein, with whom he exchanged Christmas cards.

Mr Morton never married and did not have any children, but is survived by his second cousin Trish Freeman.

Mrs Freeman said: "John was very talented and well-known in his field of music and theatre.

"He was very helpful, extremely polite and had the most wonderful speaking voice.

"He loved the fact I was a dancer and into theatre, and when my son showed an interest in theatre, he was delighted about that as well.

"He was so clever – you could ask him anything about music and he would be able to tell you the answer."

She recalled Mr Morton giving her a demonstration of the ondes Martenot, adding: "It was very technical and I could not follow it.

"I like classical music, but this was too technical for me."

A fan of television series The Prisoner, Mr Morton spent many holidays in the Welsh coastal resort of Portmeirion, where it was filmed.

The only son of Jenny and Sidney, Mr Morton spent much of his life living in a flat in Stanhope Road.

A former student at what was then the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, he was very close to his mother and Mrs Freeman said the pair 'absolutely adored' each other.

As well as being a talented musician, Mr Morton was also a set designer, director and actor, having appeared in a number of repertory companies.

He moved into the care home five years ago and was full of praise for the was staff looked after him.