ONE of North Yorkshire's longest-serving councillors has died at the age of 73.

Gordon Horner, of Huby, served councils across the Hambleton district during his life in the parish.

Mr Horner, a farmer, served on Hambleton District Council from its creation in 1973 to his retirement in April this year.

He also served on Huby parish council until this year.

An independent councillor throughout his career, he was chairman of Hambleton District Council for two years from 1992.

Mr Horner had been the chairman of the former Easingwold Rural District Council and was chairman of the village hall committee for 17 years from 1952.

He lived in Huby with his Dutch-born wife Martha.

Mr Horner followed the family tradition of farming, and in recent years was well known for driving his tractor through the village while singing.

During his life he had been an enthusiastic member of an amateur dramatic society.

Hambleton District Council's former leader June Imeson paid tribute to Mr Horner. She said: "He was a great raconteur. He was full of jokes and fun. He always had something funny to say. He was a very popular and conscientious councillor."