A "TRUE gentleman" who served as Mayor of Horwich on two separate occasions has died.

John Bragg died peacefully in hospital at the age of 87 on April 13 after contracting double pneumonia.

Mr Bragg was born and bred in Horwich, and initially worked on Ashworth Farm before working at the foundry at the Horwich Loco Works.

He then worked as a paramedic for 28 years.

Mr Bragg's son in law, Ken Matthews, said: "He was a small man with a big heart, and he had an infectious laugh which everybody in Horwich knew.

"He was dedicated to everything he did, and all the causes he was involved in. He was full of life and was always cracking a joke.

"He was always a staunch Labour man, and had always been interested in local politics."

Mr Bragg entered local politics later in life, serving on Horwich Town Council from 1991 to 2003.

He served as town mayor in 1995 to 1996 and 2002 to 2003, with his late wife Eva serving as his mayoress.

Mr Matthews added: "They were like two peas in a pod. When she died it broke his heart, he put a brave face on it, but he said he wanted to go as well after that."

During his first spell as mayor, Mr Bragg opened the original Heritage Centre at Horwich Resource Centre in 1995.

In addition, he was actively involved with the Horwich Visiting Service, serving as vice chairman for many years, as well as the Horwich Tuesday Club which provides lunches for the elderly and the disabled at the resource centre.

On retiring as a councillor, Mr Bragg was awarded the Horwich Civic Medal in 2008.

Kevin McKeon, the current leader of Horwich Town, joined fellow councillors at Thursday's town council meeting in standing an observing a minutes silence in his memory.

He said: "He was highly respected, and a very well known figure in the community.

"He was a gentleman, he was kind and considerate to all those he came across.

"People who knew him would say that you couldn't meet a nicer man, and he and his wife were a devoted couple."

A lifelong parishoner at Claremont Church, his funeral was held there on Thursday, before a committal Overdale West Chapel.