TRIBUTES have been paid to a veteran councillor involved in helping her community for more than 50 years who has died.

Maureen Taylor, an MBE, served the people of of Billingham, near Stockton, for decades.

She was a magistrate and founder of Billingham International Folklore Festival.

Alex Cunningham, Labour MP for Stockton North, led the tributes to well-known councillor.

Mr Cunningham said: "Maureen may have been small in stature but was a giant fighting for the people she represented as a Labour councillor on different local authorities over several decades. "

Bob Cook, leader of Stockton Borough Council, said he knew Maureen for many years .

He said: "She came into politics in the 1940s, a time when politics was a man's world, and she showed great fortitude to succeed. She worked tirelessly on behalf of the people she served."

Bob Gibson, former leader of Stockton council, said: "She was fiery. She would argue with anybody and was completely fearless. I very much enjoyed knowing her."

Maureen was widowed two years ago but leaves three sons, Bernard, Niall and Sean. She also served as a governor of Stockton Riverside College, was an honorary alderman at Stockton council and awarded the MBE in 1968.

Her funeral service is at Holy Rosary Parish Church, Billingham, on Wednesday, February 6 at 10.30am.