TRIBUTES have been paid to a prominent east Cleveland councillor who died on Tuesday morning.

Coun Barbara Bowater, 53, who represented the Grangetown ward on Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, died peacefully in the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough following a long illness.

Leading the tributes Councillor Vilma Collins, mayor of the borough, said: "I will remember Barbara with great affection as a colleague and a friend - a dedicated councillor for the people she represented.

"She has been tremendous since she was first diagnosed with illness, never letting anything get her down, always very cheerful and happy. She fought it with great determination."

Coun Bowater served on the former Langbaurgh District Council, becoming vice-chair of the housing committee before succeeding Coun Collins' late husband Terry as chairman when he died.

Coun Bowater became chairman of housing for Redcar and Cleveland, then lead member for housing following the authority's political restructure last year.

A council tenant, Coun Bowater was a keen supporter of the authority's proposal to transfer council homes to a new not-for-profit organisation.

Coun Bowater leaves husband Geoff, daughters Debbie, Diane, Sharon and Lindsey, stepchildren Glenn and Tracy and 15 grandchildren. Her funeral takes place at St Bede's Chapel, Teesside Crematorium today at 3.30pm