The man who became the first Mayor of Great Yarmouth Borough after the role was reinstated in 2000, has died.

Bert Collins was a long-standing Conservative councillor in Gorleston, and also a Norfolk County Councillor for many years.

He died at the weekend in his 88th year.

Paying tribute, Cllr Barry Coleman – a long-time friend – said: 'When the Mayor role was reinstated in 2000, Bert took it on and he did a fantastic job. He also held the post of deputy leader of the council for some time and he loved elections. He would be out campaigning and talking to people on doorsteps.'

At the time of his death he was president of the Yarmouth Conservative Association.

Mr Collins was also a key member of the Great Yarmouth Macmillan Cancer group, along with his wife Maureen, holding the post of chairman for many years and raising thousands of pounds for the charity.

MORE: charity stalwartsMercury Editor Anne Edwards said: 'I remember Bert as one of the first councillors to greet me when I arrived in Great Yarmouth in 2003. And I often bumped into him at one of the tea stalls on the Market Place – where he would treat me to a brew.

'He was an old-fashioned councillor, and to me appeared to know about everything that was going on. He was also steely and stuck to his guns when he believed in something.'