A DARWEN-BORN MP is grieving the death of her husband after he lost his battle against cancer.

For Ann Cryer, who made history in becoming Darwen's youngest ever councillor, the death of the Rev John Hammersley is the second time she has lost a long-time partner.

In 1994, she survived a crash on the M1 which killed her first husband, former Blackburn Technical College and sitting Keighley MP Bob Cryer.

Mrs Cryer, who became Darwen's youngest councillor when elected to office in 1963 at the age of 22, became MP for Keighley in 1997.

She married Mr Hammersley in September 2003, after their original wedding date was cancelled when he was found to have bowel cancer during an emergency appendix operation. He died in the Marie Curie Hospital in Bradford. Plans are now being drawn up for a celebration ceremony in his memory.

A statement issued by Mrs Cryer's office said: "He will be very sadly missed by all those who had the privilege of knowing him."

Mrs Cryer, 64, met her second husband on a study tour of the new South Africa eight years ago. Both had been involved with helping the under-privileged during the apartheid years.

As well as a small family funeral, a memorial service to celebrate Mr Hammersley's life will take place at St Andrew's, Keighley, on Saturday, December 11.