TRIBUTES have been paid to an Independent councillor and former headmaster who has died.

Terry Haslam- Jones passed away suddenly on Thursday aged 76.

Elected for Rossendale Council's Stacksteads Ward in 2019, he sat on its Development Control Committee, Bacup Community Partnership and Audit and Accounts Committee.

Cllr Haslam-Jones leaves a wife Pamela, three children - Timothy, Joanne and Peter - and three grandchildren.

Cllr Alyson Barnes, leader of Rossendale Council said: “This has come as a great shock. Terry was a well liked and respected local councillor and was also a good friend to many council members.

"Our thoughts, prayers and love go to his family, who are devastated by this news. He was a lovely man.”

Cllr Jackie Oakes, his fellow Stacksteads councillor, said: "He was a colleague but more than that he was a friend - lovely, entertaining and calm.

"He was very involved in the local community serving as treasurer of the Stackstead Countryside Park Group and the Whitwell Bottom Community Association."

Chief executive of Rossendale Council Neil Shaw said: “Terry was a great champion for local people.

"He was passionate about helping people and a great advocate for communities. I found him to be a thoroughly lovely fellow with a great sense of humour. He will be sadly missed by colleagues at the council."

The council will be flying the flag in St Mary’s Gardens at half-mast as a sign of respect until the day of the funeral and will also observe a silence at the next full council meeting.