TRIBUTES have been paid to a former senior teacher who has died at the age of 94.

Mrs Irene Bainbridge was first a pupil and then a teacher at the old Wolsingham Grammar School, which later became one of Durham's first comprehensives.

She worked there from the 1930s until 1968, when she retired as senior mistress.

She studied at St Mary's University, in Durham, before taking up a teaching post at Seaham and then moving to Wolsingham to teach English.

Her husband William Lee Bainbridge was headteacher at Stanhope Barrington Primary School and they shared a home in the village.

Outside school Mrs Bainbridge had a keen interest in amateur dramatics and the church.

A former pupil Charlie Donaghy, who is now chairman of governors at Wolsingham School and Community College, said: "She was a very, very good English teacher who was well organised and stern but always fair.

"As senior mistress she was respected by fellow teachers and pupils. As a young teacher, when I approached her for guidance she was always prepared to help."

The school's headteacher Mitch O'Reilly added: "This is a very sad loss. There will be many former pupils who will be sad to hear of her death."

A funeral service was held at Durham Crematorium on Tuesday.