TRIBUTES have been paid to a respected Newton Aycliffe war veteran who died the day before his 50th wedding anniversary.

Joe Burke, 79, was one of the founder members of the Newton Aycliffe branch of the Royal British Legion and was a well-known and popular figure in the town.

Mr Burke was one of a group of ex-servicemen who got together in 1959 to establish the club.

He was involved in the first fundraising efforts which helped to build the club's premises. The club building opened in Marshall Road in 1961.

Since then he has held a variety of positions in the branch and was chairman for the last 12 years.

Legion club secretary Jack Robinson said: "Everybody respected him, he's been absolutely marvellous for this club.

"He was very well known in the town, always a pleasant man and a gentleman with a good word for everybody. He will be a greatly missed by everyone who knew him."

Originally from Ryton, Northumberland, Mr Burke was an aircraft fitter and served in Singapore and South Africa during the Second World War.

He became a bus driver after the war which is how he met his wife Margaret, who was a bus conductress.

The couple were married in 1953 and settled in Newton Aycliffe in 1957 where Mr Burke worked for many years as a fitter at Eaton Axle on the town's industrial estate.

The couple have three children, David, Ann and Jean, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Mrs Burke said: "He loved his family and they always came first.

"But the Royal British Legion was his second home.

Mr Burke's funeral will be at St Clare's Church, Newton Aycliffe, today at 10.45am.