The editor of a regional daily has apologised over a column which mistakenly told readers that a prominent local sporting personality had died.

The Northern Echo’s award-winning columnist Mike Amos made a reference to the death of George Simpson, a former secretary and president of the Darlington Church and Friendly football league, in his column Backtrack, which covers grassroots sport

However, it was a different George Simpson – also from Darlington – who had passed away.

Editor Peter Barron took to Twitter to apologise for the error before an apology addressed to Mr Simpson, and the families of both men, ran in Friday’s paper.

Speaking to HTFP, Peter said: “It was a case of mistaken identity which was passed onto us by a normally reliable source.”

Northern Echo editor Peter Barron apologised for the error via Twitter

The reference to Mr Simpson has also been removed from the online version of the column.

Mike Amos has written for the paper since 1965, and has been a columnist since the mid-80s after previously being news editor. He has penned a number of popular columns including Backtrack.

He has won a record seven journalist of the year awards at the Tom Cordner North East Press Awards and was given a lifetime achievement award at the event in 2005.

The full text of the apology read:

“An article in yesterday’s Backtrack column referred to the death of Mr George Simpson, long-serving former secretary and president of the Darlington Church and Friendly football league.

Though the information upon which the column was based was published in good faith, Mr Simpson is alive and well.

The funeral took place in Darlington yesterday of a different Mr George Simpson, of Parkside, Darlington. The two men were not related.

We apologise to Mr Simpson, and to the families of both men, for the distress and embarrassment which resulted.

It was a case of mistaken identity which was passed onto us by a normally reliable source.”

The death notice published on the Northern Echo's website for the deceased Mr Simpson