Death cabbie days from retirement

Police want to trace customers who travelled in Mr Quigley's Passat

A taxi driver who died following a dispute with a passenger was days away from retirement, say his family.

Raymond Quigley from Gateshead suffered a heart attack moments after dropping off a fare in Ryhope, Sunderland early on Sunday.

His wife Dorothy said the much-loved 72-year-old had planned to stop driving in a few weeks. Police have appealed for help in tracing his last movements.

A 17-year-old boy has been arrested and bailed in connection with his death.

Detectives are examining CCTV footage from Newcastle Central Station, where the father of four picked up his last fare.

He was driving a black Volkswagen Passat which had a white taxi sign on the roof with black writing.

Final journey

The car also had red writing on the side and a badge on the back showing the number 48.

Detective Chief Inspector Mick Paterson, leading the investigation, said: "The area where this happened is a quiet area of Sunderland and incidents such as this are few and far between.

"We are trying to piece together which route Mr Quigley took in his final journey and exactly what happened in the car.

"We would like to hear from anyone who was in his taxi on Saturday night or Sunday morning prior to his final journey."