A VILLAGE butcher who served his local community for more than 40 years has died at the age of 76.

Peter Gardner owned and ran the village shop in Middleton St George from 1959 until his retirement four decades later.

The father of five died at St George's Hall, Middleton St George, on June 9, after a period of illness.

Born in Newcastle in 1931, he moved to Darlington as a teenager when his father, who served in the RAF, was posted at Low Goose Pool.

A job as an apprentice butcher at Peacock's, in High Row, set him up for a lifetime in the trade.

He later worked for Jackson's, managing the firm's five shops in Darlington, and at Taylor's, in Skinnergate.

He married his childhood sweetheart, Ann, and the couple started a family in 1956 with their son, Peter.

A year later, Simon was born, followed by Timothy in 1958, David in 1962 and Julie in 1967.

The Gardners bought the butcher's business at Temple Buildings, Middleton St George, and set up home above the shop.

Mrs Gardner worked part-time at the store and son David later joined the business.

During the next 40 years, Mr Gardner became well-known in the village as a man who would tip his hat to ladies and always wore a shirt and tie to work.

He was a keen sportsman and a guarantor when the village cricket club was formed.

Mr Gardner kept 80 pigeons and was an active member of the Stockton Invitation and Middleton St George pigeon clubs. He specialised in breeding birds for long distance events.

His pigeons often raced home from France.

After the shop's best Christmas period in 1999, Mr Gardner retired at the age of 68 and PR and A Gardner and Sons butchers closed. The couple moved to a bungalow in The Greenway.

Mr Gardner leaves his wife, five children and ten grandchildren. The funeral will be held on Monday at St Laurence's Church, Middleton St George, at 12.45pm, followed by private cremation.