A LASTING and poignant tribute to a Redcar and Cleveland councillor who died almost a year ago is to be made today when a housing office will be named after her.

The Grangetown Area Housing Office at Kingsley Road, Grangetown, will be officially named Barbara Bowater House during a ceremony in which a plaque will be unveiled.

Councillor Bowater represented the Grangetown ward from 1989, and until last year had served five years as chairwoman of housing and later lead councillor for housing.

Iain Sim, the chief executive of Cast and Country Housing, said: "The name change will reflect the dedication of Councillor Bowater who gave unstinting service during her time in office."

Councillor Bowater's widower, Geoff, will be at the naming ceremony along with the mayor, Councillor Eric Jackson, and the mayoress, Councillor Brenda Forster, and the chairman of Coast and Country Housing Frank Connorton.

Also present will be the leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Councillor David Walsh.

The authority's 12,000 housing stock was transferred to Coast and Country Housing last month. The new body will maintain and manage the properties in a rolling multi-million pounds investment programme.