WARM tributes have been paid to Paul Woodruff, the former councillor for Halton village, who died on Tuesday (February 19).

Lancaster City Council said he died peacefully in his sleep, and had retired due to ill health in 2017 after serving the community for 22 years.

The mayor of Lancaster, Cllr Andrew Kay, said: “Paul was an exceptionally hard-working councillor and passionate about doing what he believed was right for those living within his ward and for the community he personally knew and loved.

“Also known as Woodie, Paul had a fantastic sense of humour and both as a councillor and local business owner he had time for everyone he met and approached everything with humour and a smile on his face.

“It is without doubt that he will be sorely missed by many and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.”

Mr Woodruff was elected to represent the Halton-with-Aughton ward in 1995 as an independent councillor.

He served on a number of committees, including the planning and highways regulatory committee.

In 2011 he became mayor of Lancaster, choosing St John’s Hospice and CancerCare as his mayoral charities. His wife Dee supported him throughout his mayoral year as mayoress.