RAMBLERS paid tribute yesterday to a walking group leader who was killed a mile from his home as he pursued the pastime he loved.

Arthur Firth, who was also known by his middle name, Terry, was returning from a moors walk when he was involved in an accident with a car.

The 72-year-old had just led fellow members of Stockton Rambling Club on a walk from Scaling Dam to Runswick Bay, North Yorkshire. After the walk, the group got on a coach back to Teesside, and Mr Firth was dropped off along the A171 Whitby to Guisborough moors road, at about 5.20pm, on Sunday.

He was crossing the road at the junction of the moor road and Freebrough Road, near Moorsholm, a mile from his home, when the accident, involving a Ford Escort car which was travelling towards Whitby, occurred. He died at the scene.

Yesterday, Lorna Wheater, chairwoman of the rambling group, paid tribute to Mr Firth's enthusiasm for walking.

She said: "He was a very lovely, helpful man who always had a twinkle in his eye and a smile.

"He loved walking and knew the North York Moors very well. He had been a member of the club since 1953. All the group are very shattered. It is such a shock. Our thoughts go out to his family."

Mr Firth, who leaves a wife, Joan, and two sons, was also a member of the Guisborough Men's Forum and gave talks to Women's Institute groups in the Whitby area.

His widow said: "He loved walking. It was his life. He had been on a walk on the Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday of last week. He really enjoyed it, but he also had a lot of other interests.

"He was a life member of the club and we were the first two members of the club to be married - in 1955."

The driver of the Ford Escort was unhurt and no other vehicles were involved in the accident.

Police are appealing for any witnesses to contact the Police Crash Investigation Unit on (01642) 301558.