THE funerals of two Preston councillors, who died within 48 hours days of each other, were held this week.

Councillor Eric Gates, who represented Preston's rural east ward, died on Monday. He had been suffering from heart problems for the past six months.

Two days later Labour councillor Gerry Walmsley, who represented the town's central ward, died after suffering a massive heart attack while attending an information technology course at Preston Town Hall.

The funeral of Coun Gates, 66, was held at the Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, in Goosnargh. Coun Gates was a warden at the small church, which is situated in the village he had represented as a parish councillor for 24 years, and on the borough council since 1995. Among were the mourners at the service were many councillors, who paid tribute to Coun Gates.

Council leader Peter Rankin said: "Coun Gates was respected by all parties in the political arena and his death leaves a void which will be hard to fill."

The funeral of Coun Walmsley, 66, was held at Our Lady and St Bernard's Roman Catholic Church, Lea, on Tuesday, followed by a service at Preston Crematorium.

The deputy leader of Preston's Labour group, Coun Ian Hall, was sat next to Coun Walmsley at the IT seminar when the heart attack happened.

Coun Hall said: "He just seemed to go to sleep. We thought he was pulling our leg at first but soon realised there was something seriously wrong.

"We have lost a gentleman, a friend and a colleague in one. His was such a genuine person."

The two deaths mean two by-elections will have to be held, possibly before Christmas. In both cases the seats to be contested are widely seen as safe seats.

However, with the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats currently holding the same number of seats in the Town Hall, both by-elections are expected to be keenly contested.

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