A dedicated councillor who served a local community for a quarter of a century has died.

Tony Blyth, served the Claydon ward as a Great Yarmouth borough councillor from May 1991 to May this year, when he stepped down due to ill health.

During his time he also had a stint as a Norfolk County Councillor and earlier this year was made an honorary alderman of the borough in recognition of his services.

Born in 1939, Mr Blyth grew up and spent the entirety of his life living in Great Yarmouth.

He did his national service in Bury St Edmunds before marrying his lifelong sweetheart, Flo, in 1962.

Mr Blyth was a butcher, working in many shops across the Great Yarmouth borough.

But locally, he was best known as a Labour stalwart representing his local community as both a county councillor and as a borough councillor.

Paying tribute, Cllr Trevor Wainwright, Labour group leader said: “I have known Tony for a long time, since 2001 when I joined the council and he really taught me the ropes. He helped me a lot in those initial years.

“He was a very passionate councillor. Many people in his ward would remember him regularly visiting his local pub on the Shrublands where he would be there to speak to people and help them with their issues.

“In his 25 years he must have pretty much held every role and been on every committee, but planning in particular was something he was very keen on and he really enjoyed being at those meetings.

“He was such a unique figure and he will be sadly missed.”

Mr Blyth was also a prominent member of MESH, Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s neighbourhood management programme for Gorleston.

He died on October 20 due to pneumonia at the age of 77. He leaves awidow Flo and son Gary.

The funeral will take place on Friday, November 18, at 11.20am at Gorleston Crematorium and people are invited to go along and pay their respects. Afterwards there will be a private wake with close friends and family.