RELIGIOUS leaders have led the tributes to former Ribble Valley Mayor Fred Green, who has died aged 94.

Mr Green, of Kemp Court, Whalley New Road, Blackburn, was a well-known and well-loved figure in East Lancs and one of the UK's oldest Rotarians.

He was a long-serving chairman of Blackburn Magistrates' Bench and general manager of the Blackburn Times and Clitheroe Advertiser and Times for 36 years.

He was also a captain and president of Wilpshire Golf Club.

But he was perhaps best known for his work at Blackburn Cathedral, which he attended regularly from the age of six until his death.

The Very Rev David Frayne, Dean of Blackburn, said: "Fred has known every Bishop and Dean since 1921.

He has been been a member of the choir, a church warden and a member of the Cathedral Chapter and contributed a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Cathedral."

After his retirement from the newspaper business in 1973, Mr Green became a member of Ribble Valley Borough Council and was made Mayor in 1976/7.

Mr Green leaves a widow, Dorothy, 91 and daughter Valerie, 61. A funeral service will be held at Blackburn Cathedral on Tuesday, September 4, at 1.30pm.