TRIBUTES have been paid to a dedicated Crewe councillor who died last week.

Labour councillor Peter Nurse, 78, from Nantwich, died after a sudden heart attack on Friday, January 3.

Cheshire East Council has lowered its flags in honour of councillor Nurse, who represented the Crewe West ward.

He leaves behind three children and two grandchildren.

Council leader Michael Jones said: “Peter was a dedicated member and always fought for what he thought was right.

“He was a vocal presence at cabinet meetings and was always ready to challenge the issues that he believed in. He was a tough, but very principled political opponent.

“He will be sadly missed and our sympathy goes to the family at this difficult time. No doubt they will be comforted by the fact that this special man left a trail of good work behind him.”

Clr Nurse was first elected to the former county council in 1981, where he served until 2009. Before that he was a parish councillor and a member of Staffordshire County Council.

He was also a member of the Police Authority from 1994 to 2009, serving as chairman for seven years. In 2011, he was elected on to Cheshire East Council and he then rejoined the Police Authority.

Clr Nurse was chairman of the Cheshire Education Committee for many years and served on the governing body of a number of schools and colleges, including as chair of governors at South Cheshire College.

He stood for Parliament on two occasions and also for election to the European Parliament.

He was involved for a number of years with the Local Government Association and County Councils Network, serving on a number of committees.

Clr Nurse was also a very active member of the co-operative movement and was a former director of United Co-op and of the Co-operative Group.

He was a former vice-chairman of the national Co-operative Party and a past secretary of the North Staffs and East Cheshire Co-operative Party. Before his retirement, Peter was a principal lecturer at Staffordshire University.

The funeral will take place at St Mary’s Church, Nantwich on Tuesday, January 21, at noon and the family say everyone is welcome to attend.