Tributes have been paid to a popular town councillor who loved Sprowston and Norfolk.

Chris Noble, from Cromwell Road in Sprowston, was a serving member of Sprowston Town Council when he died aged 65 in hospital after three months of health complications.

He was a life-long Labour Party member, passionate about supporting young people and a member of many local groups including Sprowston Community Choir and Sprowston Parish Players.

Mr Noble was a dedicated family man to his wife of 31 years, Judith, and two sons Jack and Owen, who are in their late 20s.

His other major interests included playing table tennis, travelling, driving through Norfolk countryside in his red sports car and taking part in amateur dramatics.

Mrs Noble, who works at Sprowston Library, said: 'I knew he was liked but I didn't realise how many people thought well of Chris. He was so supportive of everything I did. He was very proud of his boys and vice versa. I will remember him as being there for us.'

Mr Noble was born in Dalston, London, and after a variety of jobs - including a spell in the army with the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers - he started a three-year degree in development studies at Norwich's University of East Anglia (UEA) in 1979 when he was in his late 20s.

He met his future wife at the UEA while she was studying socio-economic history.

They married in Surrey, where Mrs Noble grew up, and the pair settled in Thetford before moving to Sprowston in 1989.

'He loved political debate. He also had an interest in doing things for the young people of Sprowston,' Mrs Noble added.

Her husband served on the town council on two occasions from 1995-2003 and was re-elected in 2007.

He was chairman from May 1995-May 1997.

Mrs Noble said: 'He loved Norfolk, Sprowston, the countryside and the coast. He was so enthusiastic about life.'

Her husband worked for Anglian Water in various roles for several years until 2011. After that he worked as a part-time delivery driver for Sainsbury's.

His funeral is happening on Monday, April 10, at noon at St Cuthbert's Church, Wroxham Road, Sprowston.