A MEMORIAL seat has been unveiled in honour of a long-standing councillor and former mayor who dedicated almost four decades to serving residents.

Councillor Bill Waters, 77, of Byers Green, near Spennymoor, died on Thursday, March 20, this year.

A dedicated family man, he was elected on to Spennymoor Town Council in 1976 to represent Byers Green. He held the position until his death.

Cllr Waters was leader of the town council for more than 20 years and was Spennymoor mayor in 1981-82 and 2011-12.

He was also a member of Sedgefield District Council, later Sedgefield Borough Council, where he was the member for Byers Green, Middlestone Moor and Kirk Merrington until 2009.

Plans to honour his memory and work were drawn up by the town council, which paid for the seat.

It was unveiled by Cllr Waters' family on the village green in Byers Green on Saturday (November 22).

Julia Waters, Cllr Waters widow, said: “The seat is marvellous. The village, the church and the council were his life.

“He was held in high regard by the villagers and I am very proud to have the seat here.”

The seat has been placed opposite Byers Green Methodist Church which Cllr Waters attended.

Councillor Geoff O’Hehir, mayor of Spennymoor, said: “It’s right and proper that we honour him in this way.

“We have all known Bill for so long and it’s an honour to be involved with this project.”

Councillor Kevin Thompson, who covers Spennymoor for Durham County Council, said: “I have a great deal of respect for Bill.

“I knew him long before I became involved as a councillor and he really was the heart of the village for a long time. He was very much a Byers Green man.”