DEDICATED teacher Ian Marchant who taught hundreds of children at a Kidderminster high school has died at the age of 87.

The former woodwork and metalwork teacher taught at Harry Cheshire - now Baxter College - during the 1960s and 70s.

His head of department at the time Bill Pinner paid tribute to him, saying: "He would go anywhere and do anything for anyone."

Mr Marchant lived with his second wife Rita in nearby Cheshire Grove, for the last 22 years, where he cared for her following two strokes.

Prior to that the couple lived in Abberley and in the mid-70s lived over the shop at the Summerfield Post Office and general store which Rita ran, assisted by Mr Marchant after school and at weekends.

The couple, who were both widowed, met through the Camping and Caravanning Club of Great Britain.

They first lived in Lionfields Road, Cookley, where Rita ran a hairdressing business.

Son, David, who taught alongside his father at Harry Cheshire, said: "He trained to be a carpenter before going into teaching and he was a superb craftsman.

"He gave me my love of woodwork and was a very dedicated teacher."

His funeral will be at St Barnabas Church, Franche, today at 2pm followed by cremation at Stourbridge at 3pm.