TRIBUTES have been paid to a former councillor who has died, aged 82.

Ron Lowes holds a Middlesbrough Council record for an independent councillor having been elected ten times in succession.

The civic flag above Middlesbrough Town Hall was flown at half-mast on Friday, August 30, in honour of Councillor Lowes, who served the town for 39 years from 1976 to 2015.

Cllr Lowes won his first election as an independent candidate in North Ormesby in May, 1976 and and became the town's first independent Councillor since Monsignor O'Sullivan in the 1940s.

He won five elections in North Ormesby before marrying and moving to Acklam, where he was again won as an independent in May, 1991.

In 2002 he joined elected Mayor Ray Mallon's Executive as Member for Environment, Housing & Transport before serving as Vice Chair of the Council for four years.

The Northern Echo:

During his time in North Ormesby he instigated the North Ormesby community carnival, which went on to become the largest of its kind in England.

When Cllr Lowes stood down from the Council in 2015 he was given a special recognition award for his service by then Mayor Mr Mallon.

He was married to Karen, father of Kerry and Jonathan and a grandfather.

The Northern Echo:

Middlesbrough's Elected Mayor Andy Preston said: "His commitment and energy set standards for others to aspire to and I know that if we had 1,000 citizens like Ron Lowes then we'd be setting standards for every town and city to follow. We will miss Ron but we are so grateful that we had him. Thank you Ron Lowes."

His funeral is being held at Acklam Crematorium at 9.30am on Tuesday 10th September in St Bede's Chapel.