LABOUR councillor and former mayor Connie Fitzgerald died in Fairfield Hospital on Monday following a short illness. She was 72.

Councillor Fitzgerald represented Redvales ward for 12 years and was due to defend her seat in the June elections.

She was Bury born and bred, and lived in the area for most of her life, moving in recent years to Dumers Lane, Radcliffe.

Educated at Tottington St John's CE School and St Anne's (Tottington) CE School, she married Derek in 1952 and the couple had five children and four grand-children.

She worked as a warehouse inspector, a weaver for textile firms and a manufacturing worker in other local firms. Coun Fitzgerald was an active trade unionist with the TGWU and before that the Dyers and Bleachers National Union, serving as shop steward, secretary, chairman and acting convenor of the local branch.

Following retirement, she was elected councillor for Redvales and in 1998/99 became the fourth woman mayor of the borough. She served on several committees and represented the council on outside bodies such as Age Concern, Victim Support and Community Health Council. She was also a governor of St Thomas's CE Primary School and Fishpool CP School.

David Chaytor, MP for Bury North, said: "I was devastated to hear of Connie's death. She has been an absolute stalwart of the local Labour party for many years and a hugely conscientious councillor, well known and loved by the people of Redvales."

Councillor Trevor Holt, chairman of Bury East area board, added: "Connie was a remarkable individual who was the epitome of the definition 'community champion'. Connie gave tirelessly of her time to the people of Redvales who she represented as a councillor. I know she will receive a large number of accolades and be missed by many, none more than the members of the area board whose thoughts are with Connie's family and close friends."

The area board will meet as planned on Tuesday (April 27), but Coun Holt said members would be reflecting on Coun Fitzgerald's work for the area.

The funeral is on Monday (April 26) at Bury Unitarian Church in Bank Street, Bury, at 10am, followed by committal at Rochdale Crematorium.