TRIBUTES have been paid to former Guisborough mayor John Christie who died on Christmas Day after a short illness.

Mourners packed Guisborough Salvation Army citadel at the popular townsman's funeral on Tuesday.

Frances Christie, Mr Christie's widow and herself a former Redcar and Cleveland mayor, said the mourners had been asked to celebrate her husband's life.

Mr Christie, who was 71, was a member of the Labour Party for many years and Guisborough's first Labour mayor.

Originally from Scotland, moving to Cleveland in the 1960s, he worked as a fitter and turner at Teesport and for ICI.

He was a town councillor for eight years and became mayor of Guisborough in 1998, before retiring.

Mrs Christie was Redcar and Cleveland Council's first mayor.

She said: "He was full of life, very positive and committed to his community.

"He told me not to wear black at the funeral, he wanted everyone to be cheerful. He was such a funny man, full of jokes and took life by the horns. He was a very well-liked man. Everyone sang You'll Never Walk Alone, at the service and we would have done Liverpool proud.

"He was a great husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and none of us could have wanted for anything more."

Former councillor and Guisborough Labour Party secretary Harry Tout said: "John was a good chap and was always in the thick of political arguments, as we all were.

He took part in most things, from debates to elections. I helped him campaign during his own election, which he won. He was a Labour-supporter, right up to his death."

Mr Christie died at Guisborough General Hospital. A private cremation was held followed by a service of thanksgiving at Guisborough's Salvation Army Citadel.

Mr Christie also leaves two daughters Mildred and Fiona.