Tributes have been paid to former Cromer town mayor Tony Nash, who died this morning.

Mr Nash, a father and grandfather, joined Cromer Town Council in 1999 after 25 years in the police force.

As mayor he saw the authority buy its offices at North Lodge, and encouraged the council to play a bigger role in the community.

A spokesman for Cromer Town Council said: 'The members and officers of the council are greatly saddened to learn of the death of former councillor, Tony Nash.

'Tony served Cromer as a town councillor from May 1999 to May 2015. He was mayor of Cromer from 2004 to 2007 and from 2014 to 2015 before standing down due to ill health.

'Tony was involved in many aspects of council life and thoroughly enjoyed representing the town he loved.

'He will be remembered as a very kind and generous man who gave his time freely to anyone who needed it.

'After standing down from the town council he continued to attend meetings as an ex-officio member of the promotions and events committee representing the Twinning Association. He will be greatly missed.

'Our thoughts are with his wife Shay, his children Yvonne and Richard and their families.'

The current mayor of Cromer, John Frosdick said Mr Nash persuaded him to take on the role.

He said: 'He was the inspiration for me to become mayor. He gave me lots of encouragement.'

David Pritchard, the current deputy mayor of Cromer Town Council, said he was genuinely shocked and upset to learn of Mr Nash's death.

He said: 'Although unwell for some time, on every occasion I saw Tony he always had something cheerful, and sometimes sarcastic, to say to me.

'Tony succeeded me as mayor for the 2014/2015 civic year. He was always proud to wear the mayoral chain and represent Cromer and was involved in numerous groups and organisations, especially Twinning and Rotary. Tony will be greatly missed by many people in Cromer whose lives he touched and worked for.'

Mr Nash, who lived in Cromer Road, Overstrand, was in his late 70s.