A WOMAN who upheld an old family tradition of circus and fairground has died at the age of 88.

Freda Culine, known as the Grand Old Lady of Spennymoor, died on Monday.

Most people in the town knew Mrs Culine through the haberdashery shop Champagne, where she worked. But she spent most her life immersed in the colourful world of the circus and fairground.

Her son, Spennymoor councillor John Culine, who works for the Showmans' Guild, said his mother worked in the family fairground business for 50 years.

Coun Culine has traced his family history back 500 years, when his ancestors worked as silent street entertainers.

In the 1800s, Coun Culine's great-grandfather, a clown and strongman, would bring his circus to Spennymoor for the winter. His great-grandmother was a rope dancer.

Coun Culine's grandfather was a knife and tomahawk thrower and once threw knives at Buffalo Bill. His grandmother worked as a high wire acrobat and one of her most notable achievements was crossing Bridlington Harbour on a wire.

The death of Freda Culine brings the end of an era for Spennymoor.

Coun Culine said: "Everyone would pop into her shop for a chat. Even Tony Blair once called in for a chat."

Mrs Culine's funeral cortege will travel from the town centre, through Jubilee Park, to St Andrew's Church today.

The wake will be at Spennymoor Town Hall.