A COUNCIL boss has paid tribute to a former member of staff whose body was found in the River Ribble.

Julie Johnson's body was found by a fisherman in a stretch of the Ribble at Sunderland Hall Farm, Nightfield Lane, Balderstone, at 1.40pm on Tuesday.

The 49-year-old from The Grange, Wilpshire, had been reported missing by her family at 1pm on the same day.

Until recently, Mrs Johnson was a personnel officer at Hyndburn Council.

Leader of Hyndburn Borough Council, Peter Britcliffe, said Mrs Johnson had retired from the post earlier this year due to ill health and intended to spend more time with her family.

Coun Britcliffe said: "She was a lovely, bubbly person and very well liked throughout the council. There is a great swathe of sadness running through the entire council at this moment.

"Obviously, everyone is deeply saddened and for it to happen the week before Christmas brings things particularly into focus.

"All of our thoughts go out to Julie's family and children and we hope they manage to find the strength to get them through these difficult days.

"As a portfolio holder at the council she used to report directly to me but had been ill for some time."

Coun Britcliffe said that during Mrs Johnson's time as a portfolio holder at the council he had worked closely with her and had found that other members of staff had always appreciated her input on different matters within the workplace.

Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surr-ounding the death.