THE mayor of Millom has described how a pillar of the community helped keep him “on the straight and narrow” during the 20 years they knew each other.

Tributes continue to be paid to former councillor and the last chairman of the Cumbria Police Authority, Ray Cole. Mr Cole is understood to have passed away yesterday morning.

Millom mayor, councillor Doug Wilson, said: “He was the type of councillor that we all aspire to. He was a very fair man. I admired him for the way he could put his thoughts into words and above all he was a man of integrity. He has always been very supportive of me and I feel a sense of personal loss."

“He was always a big help and guidance with words of advice. He kept me on the straight and narrow many times. He was a pillar of the church as well.”

Cllr Wilson also praised Mr Cole’s work as a warden for St George's church Millom, and added: “He actually helped, along with my wife, to introduce the Christmas tree festival into Millom. He was one of the forerunners.”

Mr Cole represented Millom's Newton ward and was well-known for his activities within both politics and policing, having chaired Cumbria Police Authority before the introduction of police and crime commissioners. The Conservative councillor, who served on Millom Town Council and Copeland Borough Council, was also a director of South Copeland Tourism.

Tributes began to pour in last night, led by Conservative candidate for the May 2017 elections, Chris Whiteside.

Mr Whiteside said: “Ray was a really great guy, a man of enormous integrity and one of the nicest people I ever met.

“Before becoming involved in politics he had been a police officer and I understand he had been the police inspector in charge of Millom and South Copeland.

“Ray served as a Millom Town Councillor, and as a Copeland Borough Councillor, and represented Newtown ward on both those authorities at the time of his death. He had also previously been County Councillor for Millom and Haverigg (the ward boundaries have since changed.)

“My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Nadine and their family. Millom, Copeland, and Cumbria have lost a great servant.”