A POPULAR councillor, who was nicknamed ‘Mr Baxenden’, has died suddenly.

Coun John Griffiths, of Whitecroft View, had been complaining of indigestion pains for a few days before he was taken suddenly ill on Saturday.

The active 78-year-old, who chaired Hyndburn’s planning committee, had told his wife earlier that day, “If I’m not here when you get back - I love you.”

His wife Lynne, 68, said his work with the council meant everything to him, though he had planned to make this year his last.

She said: “The kids around here would all call him ‘Mr Baxenden’ or the ‘boss of Baxenden’, because he got them a play park.

"They’d say they wanted a skate park too and he’d laugh and say things took time.

“He’d been having indigestion for a few days so I didn’t want him to drive me somewhere on Saturday.

"He said: 'If I’m not here when you get back, I love you' and I said, 'What do you mean? I love you too'.

"When I got back he was very bad and we went to the hospital.

“They said it was up to his heart, there was nothing they could do.

"It is a real shock because he was so active. He made people forget his age. He loved the council.

"He loved being busy. If he didn’t have something to do, it would drive him mad.”

Leader of the council Peter Britcliffe said: “The Conservative group is shocked and saddened at the news of John’s death.

"He was a great councillor for Baxenden but he also had a very astute and active mind.

"He was the wise man of the Conservatives in Hyndburn and he will be very sorely missed.”

The borough’s MP Graham Jones said: “John was hard-working and cared for Baxenden.

"He deserves lasting recognition.”

The former accountant, who was originally from Birkenhead, served on the council for 12 years.

He leaves wife Lynne, sons David and Peter, stepchildren Melanie, Andy and Rick, grandchildren Jade and Jack and step-grandchildren Ashley, Rebecca, Victoria, Melissa, Lucy and Lewis.