Tributes have been paid to a former borough mayor and West Norfolk Council leader

Ray Bostock, who was 85, led the authority in the 1980s and served in the borough's top civic office from 1986 to 1987.

He was also a retired senior partner and a racehorse owner and trainer.

Henry Bellingham, MP for north west Norfolk said that he was extremely sad to hear the news.

He said: 'Ray Bostock was an incredibly energetic and dynamic Leader of the Borough Council in the 1980s and led the Borough Council to significant victories in local elections during that period.

'He was also a highly regarded Mayor of the Borough before returning to a successful career in training race horses. He will be greatly missed by a very large number of people across West Norfolk and further afield. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to Angela and his family'

Peter Lofting, of South Wootton had known Mr Bostock for around 35 years, he said: 'I knew Ray for many years both personally and professionally and through a common interest in horse racing.'

Mr Lofting said his office was next door to Metcalfe Copeman & Pettefar MCP Solicitors where Mr Bostock was a solicitor and later in his career senior partner.

He added: 'Ray was certainly a man of many parts. He did a huge number of things and he was always one for looking forward, not looking back. He was, in my opinion, an extremely intelligent man and he was a superb master of any brief.

'He was absolutely fantastic company if ever you went anywhere with Ray you always had a good time.'

Penny Harrison, 71, was civic officer for 26 years and Mr Bostock was the first mayor she worked for, she said: 'He threw himself into civic life with enthusiasm. I developed a good working relationship with him and it was always a pleasure when we would run into each other and we were able to reminisce about when he was mayor.'

Nick Daubney, leader of West Norfolk Council, said: 'I have known Ray for years and years. I always admired Ray because he was his own man and had his own way of doing things. I think he worked hard for his town, his community and his profession.'

Borough mayor Colin Manning said: 'I understand by his reputation that he was very highly thought of and did a very fine job representing his borough.'