A NORTH YORKSHIRE headteacher, who took on the county's education authority over the closure of a village school, died suddenly at home yesterday.

Elizabeth World, 51, was at the forefront of the campaign to save Gilling West from the axe six years ago.

But the 14-month battle proved in vain, with the decision confirmed by then Education Secretary, Gillian Shepherd, just before Christmas, 1994.

There were tears when the doors closed for the last time shortly before the village school was to celebrate its 150th anniversary.

But, despite fears over her own future at the time, Mrs World remained in teaching and was on secondment at Hardwick Primary, in Stockton, where she was focusing on children with special needs.

Yesterday, husband Clive - a schoolteacher in Stockton and a Liberal Democrat member of Richmondshire District Council - said he was stunned by her death.

"It's an immense shock and I haven't come to terms with it. I just feel so empty," he said.

The couple have held the posts of Mayor and Mayoress of Richmond, and Mr World added: "She was the one who held everything together. She was in the background in everything I did and she supported me 100 per cent.

"We often joked she would have made a good councillor too. Although she never stood for election, she cared so much about the town.''

Mrs World also remained a regular member of the congregation at Gilling West Church, where a funeral service will be held at a date which has yet to be confirmed.

The couple's eldest son, 20-year-old Stephen, returned home from Salford University yesterday to be with his father, as well as brothers Christopher, 17, Philip, 13, and their 11-year-old sister, Rebecca.

The Mayor of Richmond, Councillor John Harris, paid tribute to Mrs World yesterday, describing her as "always pleasant, always calm.

"She was a great support to Clive as a councillor and did a splendid job as mayoress. She was well-loved by a lot of people and Richmond will miss her. We are shocked by the news and feel deeply for the family," he said.