Tributes have been paid to one of the area's most popular doctors who has died.

Professor Olu Orugun was the North Cumbria University Hospital NHS Trust’s associate medical director and consultant physician based at the West Cumberland Hospital.

He specialised in stroke and geriatric medicine and last year was made an honorary clinical professor within the School of Medicine at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).

Prof Orugun had suffered a severe stroke earlier this year and had not returned to work. He died yesterday.

His friend, Marian Metcalf, whose 22-year-old son, Matt, was Prof Orugun's godson, posted on Facebook: "We are grateful he was in our lives and his care and dedication to the people and patients he encountered at the hospital and whole area will always be remembered.

"I think he will be remembered most for his wonderful laugh,his compassion and sincere kindness. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him and loved him. Rest in peace dear friend."

She added Prof Orugun had "poured his life" into his career.

Tributes were also paid on the We Need West Cumberland Hospital Facebook site which campaigns on health issues.

Jenny Walsh said Prof Orugun "was a kind compassionate funny professional - he dedicated his life to WCH patients and built the excellent stroke service up there and helped develop the new nurse practitioner service. so sad that he was taken far too early".

While Daphne Mercer said: "Oh what a lovely human being. I'm so sad" and Jeni Graham said: "Lovely man who cared very much for his patients and their families. Always there to answer questions, put everyone at ease."

A trust spokesman said: "Prof Orugun was a huge part of the trust and was much-loved by his many friends/colleagues, patients and the local community.

"Olu was passionate about his work and proud to work for the trust and West Cumberland Hospital.

He appears in the trust’s latest recruitment video and was a real ambassador for the trust and West Cumbria.

"He was also heavily involved in the trust’s ongoing partnership with UCLan following the creation of the West Cumberland Medical Education Centre in Whitehaven.

"Prof Orugun built key links with colleagues in Nigeria and was always looking to share knowledge and information for the benefit of all patients.

"He will be deeply missed by us all at the trust. We are thinking of his family and all of his friends at this very sad time."

In February, Prof Orugun, said the West Cumberland Hospital and the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, had a vibrant future thanks to new university links and exciting new staff developments. "I have been here since 1995 and have never been more optimistic," he said.

After being made honorary professor in 2016, Dr Orugun joined 445 others skilled in improvement including those at the front line of health and social care, patient leaders, managers, commissioners, researchers, policymakers and others.

At the time he said: “I’m thrilled at the honorary clinical professor appointment and also at the opportunity to join the innovative ‘Q’ initiative."