A former Sunderland Echo journalist has died after a long illness.

Dave Willey, whose career spanned more than 40 years, was also a long-serving magistrate in his home town of Durham.

Friend and former Sunderland Echo colleague George Oliver said: “I learned a lot from him and benefited from his wisdom, friendship and close counsel.”

And Judge Denis Orde, former resident judge at Durham Crown Court, said: “He became something of an institution in the city, rather like the cathedral and castle, and was so good at his job, he was like part of the court team.”

Dave, who was in his 60s, spent some 28 years at the Echo’s Durham office.