A man has been charged with the murder of a court bailiff who was attacked while he was at work.

55-year-old Jeff Blair died in hospital after he sustained serious injuries while on duty in Shildon, County Durham on Tuesday.

Robert Davies, 49, has been charged with murder, possession of an offensive weapon and affray.

In a statement released after his death, Blair’s family said that the tragic loss has left them “devastated” and that Blair will be “forever missed”.

“Jeff was a much-loved son, brother, father, partner, uncle and good friend to many,” they said.

“His ability to apply humour and laughter to any situation and lighten the mood will be irreplaceable to our family.

“We are devastated to lose Jeff in such tragic circumstances and he will be forever missed and remembered always, with much love and affection.”

Blair worked as a police officer for Durham constabulary for 22 years before retiring in 2017 and subsequently becoming a bailiff.

According to the government website, court bailiffs can visit people’s homes if they have outstanding debts such as parking fees, council tax bills or court judgments. A bailiff may also be used to serve court documents or give notices and summons.

An HM Courts and Tribunals Service spokesperson said: “Our thoughts and condolences are with Jeff Blair’s family, friends and those who worked with him.

“This was a shocking and horrendous incident.

“Violence against our hardworking staff is completely unacceptable and we are providing support to our colleagues affected by this tragedy.”

It is understood the courts service will now review what happened and whether further action is needed to protect bailiffs in the course of their work.

Detective Ch Insp Sharon Alderson, who is leading the investigation, said: “This has been a deeply upsetting incident which has caused a great deal of shock to the local community.

“Our thoughts are with Jeff’s family and all those who knew and loved him at this difficult time.

“We will continue to have a police presence at the scene, and I’d like to thank the public and nearby residents for their patience, understanding, and cooperation while we work to establish exactly what has happened.

“We are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has any information that could help the investigation and has not yet spoken to us.”

Davies has been remanded in custody ahead of an appearance at Peterlee magistrates court on Friday.

Police have asked anyone with information to call Durham constabulary on 101, quoting incident reference 209 of 10 March. Information can also be submitted anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.