A TOWN said a fond farewell to a well-respected councillor who served his borough and region'.

More than 120 mourners from all parties gathered at Blackburn Cathedral yesterday to pay tribute to Frank Gorton who died aged 81 on February 15 after an illness.

The service was followed by a committal service at Pleasington Crematorium for close friends and family.

He was the Blackburn with Darwen Council's longest-serving councillor -having represented Little Harwood, Blackburn, for 46 years.

Last year, he was awarded a civic medal for his dedication and had been intending to stand down at May's local elections.

The service was lead by the Dean of Blackburn, the Very Rev Christopher Armstrong, who described Coun Gorton as a "pillar of this grand Lancashire community".

Lord Taylor of Blackburn, who was deputy leader of the council when Mr Gorton was elected, said nothing was ever too much trouble for him.

He said: "He was a good citizen of this town, he was a good father and a good husband.

"Frank gave so much - he was there at the beck and call of everybody regardless of politics.

"Frank, you did an excellent job -Blackburn is a far better place now than when you came to it."

Jack Straw, Blackburn MP and leader of the House of Commons, told the congregation that Coun Gorton was driven by his faith in the principles of democratic socialism.

He was a believer in the five freedoms set out by the founder of the welfare state, William Beveridge, that everyone should be free from want, squalor, disease, ignorance and idleness. Mr Straw said Coun Gorton never sought fame nor glory.

"Instead he got on with the job, utterly determined to represent his constituents to provide them with those five freedoms.

"He was a lovely man. We grieve with his family and salute his work."

Former council leader Sir Bill Taylor and Blackburn with Darwen Council chief executive Graham Burgess were among the many mourners.

A tearful Coun Yusuf Jan-Virmani said Coun Gorton had been a mentor to him.

He joked about a county council meeting the pair had attended and Coun Gorton had been giving himself his diabetes jab in the toilets when two people walked in and thought they were taking drugs.

After serving in Egypt during the Second World War, he took up a career as nurse.

He later met wife Edith, 90, and the couple had two children Eileen Hall, 51, and Brian, 57.

Pay your tributes to Frank by clicking on the link below