TRIBUTES have been paid to a long-standing councillor who has died.

Francis Roy Sharples, who was known as Roy, served as ward councillor for Norden and Rishton on Hyndburn Council for 17 years between 1979 and 1996.

He served on a number of committees including Development Control Committee and was Shadow Chairman of Leisure Services and on the Policy and Resources Committee.

Council chiefs have lowered the flag at Accrington Town Hall to pay their respects to him.

The 85-year-old has been described by family as a ‘funny guy with a great sense of humour’.

Son Graham said: “We have had 180 or 190 comments on Facebook when we announced his death and there were some nice messages of support.

“I think that shows how much people thought of him.

“He wanted to help people which is why he did it (being a councillor).

“He was a Conservative councillor but I know that a lot of people who supported Labour voted for him and he had some landslide wins in elections as he was popular.

“He only left the council because he was retiring, it was not because he was voted off which is great.”

Roy worked at Mullards in Blackburn and also at Lancashire Shopfitters as a salesman.

Graham said: “His passion was gardening and it was one of his favourite hobbies.

“He also liked to play a bit of golf when he was younger.”

He recently lived in Castleford Care Home in Clitheroe.

Graham added: “The nurses loved him and he was a big singer doing lots of Frank Sinatra. The nurses were fantastic to him in the five years he was there.

“He was funny, witty and was always laughing”

Coun Peter Britcliffe has described Roy as having a ‘lively, bubbly and enthusiastic man who worked hard for the people who elected him.’

He said: “My thoughts go out to his wife Jean and the family.

“Roy was passionate about Rishton and always called it ‘The village’. He was a chairman of the leisure department and worked to protect the sports fields and was passionate about sporting facilities in Hyndburn.”

A service taking place at Accrington Crematorium on October 29 at 9.40am.