THE widow of a councillor who died after he collapsed in a committee meeting, has had his named commemorated forever - in the form of a road sign.

Now every time Irene Ryan steps from the front door of her house on Forrester Close, Leyland, she can look across the street at the houses on Ryan Close.

South Ribble Council voted to give the development the name as a mark of respect for her husband Sid, a popular councillor who died three years ago aged 70.

Irene said: "I'm really pleased. The council leader phoned and said they had decided this and was I in agreement.

"I said yes straight away. I'm very honoured as I will be able to see the sign every day." Mrs Ryan described Sid as a loving, hard-working man who was always popular with residents in his 13 years as a South Ribble councillor.

This came to an end when he had a stroke during a housing committee meeting in 1994 and later died in hospital.

She said: "Towards the end he wanted to step down but he was so popular that people wouldn't let him. He was a real fighter who helped a lot of people."

The naming of the street was the brainchild of Councillor Bill Evans who believes streets should be named after someone or something of historical value.

Just under a year ago he fought to change the name of another street called Paddock Rise, situated on land that was Leyland's famous Stanning Bleachworks - and was successful in re-naming the road Stanning Close.

Councillor Evans said: "I think it's tremendous. It's great that streets are being associated with the history of Leyland and the residents think it's great."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.