TRIBUTES poured in last night for a respected councillor who made an immense contribution to the Darlington community.

Roderick Burtt, Conservative member for Hurworth on Darlington Borough Council, died on Sunday, aged 64.

Born in July 1940, near Middlesbrough, Mr Burtt lived in both Gainford and Darlington, before settling in Hurworth in 1955.

He was educated at Stonyhurst College, in Blackburn, Lancashire, and went on to train as a chartered surveyor with the Sanderson, Townend and Gilbert firm.

At the age of 23, he was offered a partnership in the company's Darlington office, where he worked for about 30 years.

After his early retirement from the firm, he briefly spent time with the Cleveland Community Foundation and was chief executive of St Teresa's Hospice in Darlington.

He was elected to Darlington Borough Council in 1999, serving the Hurworth ward.

Over the past six years, he campaigned tirelessly for the village, even in recent months despite the deterioration in his health.

Retaining Hurworth School in the community was one of his priorities and he was often outspoken about the contentious issue.

Conservative group leader Tony Richmond said: "My life has been greatly enriched by having Rod as my friend. He was a wonderful man who was respected throughout the town hall.

"He was an excellent councillor and will be sadly missed. Debates in committee and in the council chamber will not be the same from now on."

Political opponents also paid tribute to Mr Burtt's dedication to the council.

Leader of the Labour-controlled council, John Williams, said: "Rod Burtt's passing is a sad loss to everyone at Darlington Borough Council. Rod was a hard-working and dedicated councillor, who served the people of Darlington well.

"He was a true gentleman, who was respected by councillors and officers alike. His dry wit and sense of humour will be sadly missed by everyone. Our thoughts are with his wife, Judith."

The Round Table was one of Mr Burtt's great passions in life, from the age of about 18.

He became national president in 1976/77 - the organisation's golden jubilee year. Its major conference that year was in Great Yarmouth and Mr Burtt invited former Prime Minister Ted Heath as guest speaker.

Mr Burtt was also a member of Darlington Rotary Club.

He was a keen traveller and in 1983/84, he and his then fiancee, Judith Kent, took a year's sabbatical to travel around the world.

Mr Burtt's brother, Alastair, said last night: "His great strength was in public speaking. He has done all of the significant speeches in our lives.

"It didn't matter what the occasion was, he always managed to say something and one of the great things about Rod was his incredible wit."