THE family of a man who died following an attack outside a North-East pub paid tribute to him yesterday, just hours after a man pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Father-of-three, Anthony George Hancock, of Bishop Auckland, was described as a hardworking family man by his sister Julie Richards, and his wife Janet Hancock.

The pair spoke out after Lee Ballan, 34, of Lusby Crescent, Bishop Auckland, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court, where he admitted manslaughter.

The court heard Ballan attacked Mr Hancock outside the Beehive pub in Bishop Auckland.

The incident on Saturday, April 16, was captured on CCTV.

Mr Hancock was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital and later transferred to the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, where he died.

Judge John Milford QC adjourned sentencing until August 26 and Ballan was refused bail.

Speaking after the hearing Mr Hancock's wife, Janet Hancock, of Woodhouse Close Estate, Bishop Auckland, said although the couple had split up they were still friendly.

She described Mr Hancock, who worked as a security guard, as a dedicated and hardworking father who doted on his three daughters, aged 17, 15 and 11.

Mrs Hancock said: "I don't know what he was doing in the Beehive that night, as far as I'm aware it was the first time he's ever been in there.

"He was just an ordinary guy, he worked for a living, liked playing darts and dominoes."

Mr Hancock's death prompted a successful application from Durham Police to revoke the Beehive's licence.

Officers cited on-going crime and disorder issues at the troubled pub as the reason behind the bid in May.