A FORMER North Yorkshire county councillor and ex-leader of the Tory group on the City of York Council has died at the age of 74, after a long illness.

Andrew Armstrong, an honorary alderman of the city, served on the council from its launch in 1996 to the general council election in May 1999.

The present Lord Mayor of York, Irene Waudby, paid tribute.

She said: "He gave long and valuable service to the residents of Copmanthorpe and Bishopthorpe.

"I knew of his caring approach when dealing with personal issues raised by local people. He had a clear understanding of the issues facing his area and Greater York and worked hard to offer solutions.

"His dedication and length of service was quite rightly recognised when the city honoured him with the title of honorary alderman."

Alderman Armstrong was a retired civil engineer and spent nine years with Selby District Council and seven years on North Yorkshire County Council, before joining the city council as the member for Copmanthorpe ward.

He leaves a wife, Catherine, two daughters and several grandchildren.