Tributes have been paid to a former Beccles mayor who put his heart and soul into serving the town.

Alan Thwaites, who was also a former Waveney and Suffolk County councillor, died last Thursday afternoon aged 64 after a long battle with cancer.

He joined Beccles Town Council in 1995 and in that time served as both a district and county councillor, resigning from his post with Waveney District Council in 2012 due to health reasons. He served as mayor of Beccles from 1997 to 1998.

Beccles town councillor Brian Woodruff paid tribute on behalf of the council.

He said: 'He was what I would describe as an all-rounder.

'He was a labour politician and I am conservative but we worked together on numerous projects for Beccles and he never let the politics get in the way.

'His main aim was to do what is best for the people of Beccles.

'He would get involved with anything no matter how much time it would take and if you needed him on a committee he would be there. He really put his heart and soul into everything he did. Even in the last couple of years when he was in and out of hospital he still managed to put a lot of effort into his local authority work.

'It is a huge loss for Beccles.'

Mr Thwaites, who was a Norwich City season ticket holder, was instrumental in the long-awaited Beccles southern relief road, working with Mr Woodruff on the project for a number of years.

He was governor at two Beccles schools and was also a part of the Beccles and Bungay Safer Neighbourhood Team, Beccles Business and Tourism Association, Beccles Museum, the rugby club and sea cadets.

Mr Thwaites leaves behind his wife Enid and daughter Helen.