A WELL-KNOWN County Durham landowner and countryman has died aged 76 after a battle with cancer.

Sir Anthony Milbank, fifth baronet of Barningham Park, between Barnard Castle and Richmond, died on Sunday, his family announced tonight.

He leaves wife Belinda and children Alexine, Edward and Toby.

In a statement posted on his blog, set up two years ago to write about his illness, his family said: “He went very quietly in his sleep and we were all here. We are needless to say shattered to lose him.

“Thank you all so much for all your wonderful messages.

“Dad loved them and they have been an enormous support to us all.”

Sir Anthony was born on September 16, 1939 and was educated at Eton College before obtaining the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in the Coldstream Guards.

He succeeded to the title of 5th Baronet Milbank on the death of his father, Major Sir Mark Vane Milbank, on April 4, 1984.

Sir Anthony was a founder of the Moorland Association, High Sheriff of County Durham, a Deputy Lieutenant of North Yorkshire and a leading figure in the Country Landowners Association.

A keen conservationist, he was a past winner of the Joseph Nickerson Foundation Heather Award for best managed moor in Britain for grouse, wildlife and contribution to the local economy, and a prize winner in the Laurent Perrier Awards for management of wild game.

His family said a service to celebrate his life will be held on Monday, July 18 at 2pm at Barningham church and all are welcome afterwards to tea at Barningham Park.

His family added: “Please do not send any flowers but if you would like to contribute anything to the wonderful people who cared for him over the last few weeks at home, here is the link to a JustGiving page: https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/anthonymilbank”

The page is raising funds for hospices in the area and also for Barningham village church, where Sir Anthony was a warden.

There will be a small family burial service at 10.30am on the same day as the service to celebrate his life.