A pensioner who helped to keep his village free of litter has died at the age of 82.

Retired farmworker Wally Parr was employed as a litter picker for some years by Staindrop Parish Council, near Barnard Castle.

He carried out his task for more hours than he was paid for, and continued long after he gave up his official duties.

William Trotter, a former chairman of the council, said: "Wally was a wonderful character who loved the whole village to be tidy. Every day he could be seen picking up scraps of paper.

"He enjoyed walking in the surrounding countryside too, and always picked up any litter he saw. He gave the village and area tremendous service."

Mr Parr, a widower who lived in the Almshouses, Staindrop, was also an expert at finding wild mushrooms.

"He regularly popped in with a dish of mushrooms for my late mother," said Mr Trotter.

Joe Hodgson, clerk to the parish council, said, "Wally was brilliant as a litter picker even when not being paid.

"He was a well-loved man. You never heard anyone say a bad word about him."

A funeral service for Mr Parr will be held in Staindrop Methodist Church, on Friday.