TRIBUTES have been paid to a long-serving town councillor and well-known local businessman after he died peacefully in hospital.

Prudhoe Town Council's Coun. Andy Gill, who had been a member of the council since 2007, died on Thursday.

Coun. Gill was well-known throughout the town, and agreed to stand for election in 2007 after being asked for many years.

He was also the proprietor of Regency Reproductions, a successful furniture shop on Front Street. He also was a familiar face and contributor to Prudhoe Town Fair, the Prudhoe Chamber of Trade and the highly celebrated Prudhoe Christmas Lights of days gone by.

In a statement on their website, Prudhoe Town Council paid tribute to Andy.

It read: "We are incredibly sad to share news that Councillor Andy Gill died peacefully in hospital on Thursday morning. The Town Council would like to pay tribute to Andy and to pass on our heartfelt condolences to Andy’s family.

"Andy was a man of detail, he was often first to point out a problem, but more often than not he was also first to solve it. Andy was a hands-on councillor, who was active at every event and on many committees.

"There will be a huge void in our Council with Andy’s passing and he will be sadly missed but warmly remembered and revered.

"Our deepest sympathies are with Andy’s family, for whom his loss will be greatest."

Read more in next week's Hexham Courant.