TRIBUTES have been paid to a former Mayor of Burnley who has died at the age of 78.

James Wyld, of Burnley Road, Cliviger, died at Royal Blackburn Hospital on Tuesday after an illness linked to a long battle with diabetes.

Burnley councillors held a minute’s silence for Mr Wyld at the annual council meeting on Wednesday.

Mr Wyld, who was elected as a Conservative councillor in 1973, retired from his Cliviger and Worsthorne seat in 1990. He and his wife, Janet, were Mayor and Mayoress of the borough for 1985-86.

Daughter Kathryn 47, said her father, who worked for the family’s building firm, had battled on after having both his legs amputated and being given artificial limbs.

“He was such a determined gentleman, he tried very hard to be as normal as possible,” said Kathryn. “Even with one artificial leg, he was still up scaffolding and painting.”

Mr Wyld, also served as a county councillor and was a Burnley College governor.

Tom Forshaw, head of Burnley Council’s chief executive’s office, said: “Jim was very well-respected and it is a sad loss for the town. He was a dedicated councillor for many years Ex-MP Peter Pike, added: “ He was a former strong leader of the Conservatives on Burnley Council and he gave many years of service to the people of Burnley.”

Mr Wyld is survived by his wife, daughter, son, James, 51, daughter-in-law Sue and grandchildren, James, 14, and Katy, 12.