A WELL-KNOWN civic campaigner died suddenly after returning home from a night out at his local pub.

Tom Law died at Durham's University Hospital of North Durham, early last Tuesday after taking ill at his home in the Gilesgate area of the city.

It is understood 71-year-old Mr Lay, who visited the nearby Woodman Inn, in Gilesgate, on Monday evening, suffered a heart attack shortly after arriving home.

Mr Lay was an active member of the City of Durham Trust, and of residents' groups in the Claypath and Gilesgate areas.

Trust chairman Roger Cornwell said the sad news of Mr Lay's death came as a surprise to trustees.

"He was a very active member of the trust and served at least twice as a trustee.

"Tom had an encyclopaedic knowledge of Durham and who owned what in the city.

"He is from a long-standing family in Durham.

"They have been in that house in Gilesgate since the 1850s.

"He was very keen on local affairs and very concerned that people in power did not take advantage of ordinary people.

"That's why he was so active.

"It's a great pity that he died without probably realising how well liked he was."

Mr Cornwell said Mr Lay did his National Service in the RAF and later worked for the Gas Board.

His last job before retirement was as a business studies teacher at Wolsingham Comprehensive School.

The funeral service takes place at Durham Crematorium tomorrow, at 1.30pm.

Mourners are asked not to take flowers, although donations can be made to St Cuthbert's Hospice