HUNDREDS of people have paid tribute to a charity champion and community stalwart who helped spread festive cheer for more than 40 years.

William Lyle, of Tow Law, has been fondly remembered on the Facebook page Tow Law Past and Present and his family has received dozens of sympathy cards after the 86-year-old passed away on New Year’s Eve.

Mr Lyle, who was known as Billy, raised thousands of pounds for worthwhile causes over the years.

He was born in Tow Law on January 22, 1929 and was one of 11 children born to Agnes and Jack Lyle.

Mr Lyle had a happy childhood and started work at the Stanley pits aged 15 before becoming a steelworker.

In 1952, he married his late wife, Ethel, and the couple had two children, Marilyn and Ian.

He was forced to retire after losing part of his foot in a work accident but the grandfather and great-grandfather was best known for his charity work and was one of three ‘shepherds’ along with his friends Bobby Tomlinson and Ned Hardy, who would sing carols outside Bishop Auckland Hospital to spread Christmas cheer.

He also dressed up as Santa to visit the schools and care homes while he would act as a lucky mascot for newlyweds by turning up to their weddings as a chimney sweep.

Tow Law Town Council had a plaque made as an accolade to him in the late 90s.

Mr Lyle’s daughter, Marilyn Craig, said she was overwhelmed by the amount of well-wishers who remembered her father and said he was even continuing fundraising after his death by instructing any flower money to go to Diabetes UK and his money tin from his home to be donated to the Salvation Army for their food bank.

“When the minister came to see us he see he could not get over the amount of comments that were on Facebook Tow Law Past and Present – he was 86 but there were a lot of young people commented on him saying he was a character,” she said.

“He was the last of the three shepherds and carried on until he could do it no longer.”

Mr Lyle’s funeral will be held at St Philip & St James Church, in Tow Law, on Friday, January 15, at 2pm followed by refreshments at the Newmarket Inn.

Everyone is welcome and any donations in lieu of flowers should be made to Diabetes UK.