COUNCILLORS held a minute’s silence in memory of their late colleague Frank Ashworth at last week's full council meeting.

The 73-year-old, who served the Rosehill with Burnley Wood ward for the past three years, died on Wednesday, February 2 after a long battle with cancer.

Coun Jeff Sumner, who represents the same ward as Coun Ashworth, said: “It goes without saying that Frank will be missed not just in the country but by residents of his ward.

“I’d only known Frank for four years but in those four years I had got to know him as a good person who didn’t have a bad word to say about anybody.”

Prior to joining the council, Mr Ashworth had spent the previous 15 years as a magistrate in the town.