TRIBUTES have been paid to a Durham County councillor who has died at 69.

John Alderson, of Peterlee, who was secretary of the ruling Labour group, died on Friday after a battle against cancer.

Councillor Alderson, who had represented the Peterlee Central division since 1985, had decided not to stand at next month's election.

A former teacher, he had been a senior official in the National Union of Teachers at regional and national level.

Council leader Don Robson said: "He was very conscientious and a very good councillor. He was very strong on education and local issues.

"He represented his people well and he was always prepared to take on and push issues that affected them.''

He added that Councillor Alderson's "professionalism as Labour group secretary was beyond belief".

Councillors observed a minute's silence yesterday before the start of the executive committee meeting.

A funeral will be held tomorrow at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, in Peterlee, at 2.30pm and will be followed by cremation in Durham.

There will be family flowers only and donations are requested for Macmillan Cancer Relief.