Ex-Sunderland chairman Sir Tom Cowie dies

Sir Tom Cowie was at the helm of Sunderland FC for six years

Former Sunderland AFC chairman and North East entrepreneur Sir Tom Cowie has died at the age of 89.

Born in Sunderland, he left school at 15 and worked in his father's motorcycle repair shop.

He went on to sell the vehicles, eventually founding the business empire which later became Arriva.

In 1982 he was appointed OBE, he was knighted in 1992, and a decade later Sunderland University renamed a campus in his honour.

He had a long association with the Conservative Party, but in 2007 accused David Cameron of an "arrogant, Old Etonian" style of leadership.

Having paid £630,000 to the Tories in the previous six years, he said in future he would make donations to the Prince's Trust charity instead.

During his six years at the helm of Sunderland in the 1980s he was responsible for signing Lawrie McMenemy as manager.

A Sunderland AFC spokesman said: "Everyone at [the club] would like to offer their sincere condolences to Sir Tom's family."