Consett'S first-ever Conservative Party councillor, who managed to hold on to his seat in the Labour stronghold for 33 years, has died.

Welshman Larry Thomas, MBE, who was 83, served on Consett Urban District Council and its successor, Derwentside District Council from 1950 to 1983.

For part of that time he was the only Conservative councillor although at one point, with Mr Thomas as leader, there were five Conservatives.

This week the leader of Derwentside council, Alex Watson, paid tribute to his former colleague who served the Consett North ward. He said: "He was a very well-respected councillor who kept in touch with what was going on long after he left the council.

"He was always interested in what was best for the community. The people of the area always came first. He will be very well remembered and sadly missed."

Mr Thomas's widow, Betty, said that her husband, a son of a Rhondda Valley miner, had come to love his adopted town.

He was awarded an MBE at Buckingham Palace in 1981 for his services to the council. In 1980, the predominantly Labour council presented him with a tribute sculpture of a Welsh dragon in honour of his work.

Mrs Thomas said: "He worked very hard as a councillor, all hours and for very little reward. He always said 'I'll never tell a lie or mislead anybody, I'll always speak my mind.' And so many of the people who've come to me have said just that, you always knew where you were with him."

The father-of-two and grandfather-of-one died at the University Hospital of North Durham of pneumonia after a long illness. He had worked as a manager at an oil company.

His funeral was due to be held at Consett's Christ Church at 12.30pm this Friday.