A FORMER mayor who dedicated a major part of his life to public service has died after a long fight against prostate cancer.

Tributes have been paid to former Atherton Councillor and honorary Alderman "Fiery" Jack Sumner, aged 85, who died on Sunday. He will be cremated on Friday at Howe Bridge following a 9.30am service at St Michael and All Angels' Church.

Atherton Councillor Susan Loudon, said: "What a man. He was a really, really good person, a statesman who was really respected and did a lot for Atherton.

"He was not only good for the town but was also loyal to Wigan. It was Jack who asked me to be a councillor and it was a privilege to work with him.

"He knew he had cancer while he was on the council but he became really ill 18 months ago so we organised a Christmas party for him in the August because he didn't think he would make it. But he did and then celebrated his birthday as well. He was a fighter for himself and for other people and was fittingly known as fiery Jack."

Mr Sumner was honoured with the title of alderman in 1999, after clocking up a total of 37 years of service since being elected to serve on Atherton Urban District Council in 1962.

He was Mayor of Wigan from 1986 -7.

He represented Atherton's North Ward for 12 years before being elected to the Atherton Ward of Wigan Council in 1974 -- a role he continued until his retirement five years ago.

During his time on the council, he was chairman of numerous committees including the employment and productivity committee, the education sub-committee and the youth advisory committee.

He was also chairman of Atherton Council on two occasions and he was the chairman of governors at Atherton Two Porches Special School, Tyldesley Highfield School and Parklee Primary School.

The former Mayor of Wigan in 1986-7, he was also a member of the governing body of Hesketh Fletcher CE High School and vice-chairman and president of the Leigh Constituency Labour Party.

A great granddad he leaves a wife, Netta, two children, Christine and Keith, and five grandchildren.