TRIBUTES have been paid to a police sergeant who spent his entire career serving the community where he made his home.

George Douglas, who died earlier this month aged 80, spent more than 30 years working in the town after moving from his native Scotland as a teenager.

He was a desk sergeant at the old police station in Northgate, Blackburn and has been described by ex-colleagues as ‘a great community officer with a strong moral compass’.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Mr Douglas, who lived on St James’ Road, Shear Brow, died on February 5 after suffering a bleed on the brain.

His late wife Roona, died at the age of 75 in 2015.

His son, Frazer Douglas, 49, who is also a serving officer with Greater Manchester Police, said his father saw policing as his vocation.

He said: “My dad moved from Perthshire where he grew up to join the police force. He made Blackburn his home and settled here.

“He spoke with great fondness about working here and made many friends.

“My mother would say that if they went shopping in Blackburn, an hour trip could take three hours as he was constantly being stopped by people who recognised him.

“He was even thought of with affection by some of the people who may have been on the wrong side of the law at one time or another or who he’d maybe had to lock up once or twice.”

Mr Douglas also leaves son Euan, 52 and daughter Fiona, 55 and three granddaughters.

Away from work, Mr Douglas was a Blackburn Rovers fan, enjoyed playing squash and badminton and was a member of Accrington Golf Club.

Ex-Blackburn CID detective Tony Ford saidMr Douglas ‘was as solid a police officer you could ever wish for’.

He said: “George was a softly spoken man with a strong moral compass who served his community for decades. He was an absolute gentleman.”

and a credit to the force A funeral service for Mr Douglas will take place at St James’ Church, Shear Brow, Blackburn at 1pm on Friday, February 24 followed by cremation at Pleasington at 2.15pm.