A FORMER councillor who brought laughter to his family, politics and those around him has died.

Tom Porter passed away from cancer aged 66 at his Ightenhill home in Burnley after a short illness.

Tributes have been paid to him by Burnley Council leader Cllr Charlie Briggs, his Labour predecessor Cllr Mark Townsend and his friend and Gannow councillor Neil Mottershead.

Mr Porter was a Liberal Democrat councillor for Whittlefield with Ightenhill from May 2010 to May 2018 and a member of Burnley Council's planning committee

He leaves a wife Debbie, three daughters Sarah, Abigail and Catherine, a stepson Stuart and two grandchildren, Ada and Reuben.

Born and educated in Burnley, Mr Porter was a keen golfer and walker,

Cllr Briggs asked Burnley’s executive meeting for a minute’s silence at the start of its meeting on Tuesday for ‘a great man and a fantastic councillor’.

He said: “Tom was a brilliant gentleman who will be sadly missed. He help me through some bad times when my wife Lynne passed. His humour was brilliant and he was always there for me.”

Cllr Mottershead said: “Tom Porter was one of those people who brought colour and laughter into all our lives. He was a great person and a man who stood above the rest.

“Tom had the skills that made him a man who could see things others couldn’t especially on the planning committee. He was passionate about his area and residents and he will be sadly missed by all who met him.

“To sum him up, a lovable man with a permanent smile on his face, very witty and willing to help anybody, a gentleman of the highest calibre. He had nothing but passion and drive for helping the Friends of Calder Park group secure funding to upgrade the park. He will be truly missed by all.

“I have asked Burnley Council for permission to plant a tree in his memory in Ightenhill Park.”

Mrs Porter said: “He was full of fun and made people laugh. Everybody loved him, he was just a lovely, lovely man.”

Mr Porter’s funeral will be at Burnley Crematorium at 10am next Friday. Donations are requested for the Christie Hospital and Pendleside Hospice.