TRIBUTES have been paid to a community campaigner and champion disabled athlete who served as Burnley’s mayoress last year.

Mary McCann, of Red Spar Road, lost a brave battle against cancer on Friday at the age of 71, it has been confirmed.

Councillors were told that she was seriously ill at a meeting of Burnley full council last Wednesday night.

The mother of Burnley councillor Peter McCann, she served as one of his two mayoresses, along with her grand-daughter Jennifer in 2007/08.

Back in the 1980s the mother-of-three was also a renowned disabled athlete, having suffered a stroke the previous decade and been confined to a wheelchair.

One of her proudest moments was winning three gold medals at the first-ever disabled swimming championships in Norway.

She also held British disabled sports records for the shot put and discus and later turned her hand to pistol shooting.

Tom Forshaw, head of the chief executive’s office at Burnley council, said: “Our sympathies go out to Peter and his family at their sad loss.

“Mary took her role as Mayoress very seriously and served the borough well during her year in office.

"During his acceptance speech on becoming Mayor, Peter described Mary as an inspiration for her tireless work in the community and I’m sure everyone would agree with that.”

Mrs McCann also served as a board member with Calico Housing and was a tireless campaigner for regeneration ideals in Burnley and the Barclay Hills estate in particular, where she lived.

Leave your messages of sympathy by adding your comments below.