FAMILY, friends and colleagues of a popular council leader gathered at his funeral yesterday to celebrate his life.

Councillor Alan Gray, who died two weeks ago, aged 56, was remembered as a man committed to working for the community, but also a loyal friend who loved cracking jokes.

The Reverend Bill Broad, who led the service at St Clare's Church, Newton Aycliffe, yesterday paid tribute to the support that Coun Gray had received from his wife, Joan.

The eulogy was read by Councillor Vince Crosby, who listed his friend's achievements.

Coun Gray was first elected to Great Aycliffe Town Council in 1987 and was a former town mayor.

He was elected council leader last year, but had to step down in January because of illness. He was also a prominent member of Sedgefield Borough Council.

A champion of the health service, one of his proudest achievements was becoming the first chairman of Sedgefield Primary Care Trust in April 2002, a position he held until his death.

Coun Crosby said: "Alan was a much-loved and popular person, always ready with a joke, and he was the same throughout his life."

Coun Gray had been looking forward to becoming a grandfather for the first time.

His son, Darren, 35, whose wife, Kyoko, is expecting a child in June, said his father was an avid listener to the news, but encouraged him to look behind the headlines and make his own mind up.