KEEN birdwatcher and active member of Bexley RSPB, John Carter, has died at the age of 70.

Mr Carter, of Maxwell Road, Welling, died in Guy's Hospital from peneumonia.

He was a member of the Bexley group for more than 20 years and took part in many of its activities including delivering the newsletter and helping with projects such as rebuilding the hide at the Elmley reserve in Kent.

He was also a regular at the indoor meetings and on coach trips, as well as weekly car excursions with friends to birdwatch.

Originally from Lewisham, he was evacuated during the Second World War to Barrow-in Furness in Cumbria and was print works manager at Her Majesty's Stationery Office, until he took early retirement.

Many RSPB members from Kent and south east London attended his funeral at Eltham Crematorium on July 8.

He leaves a widow Eve, and a son and daugher, Andrew and Suzie.