A FORMER magistrate who twice stood for Parliament has died in hospital after a short illness.

William Rutter, 87, of Cherry Street, Blackburn, died on Wednesday, at Queen's Park Hospital following heart problems. His family were with him.

He was a local magistrate from 1951 until he retired at 70.

Mr Rutter was a Great Harwood councillor from 1939 to 1954 and chairman of the council from 1948 to 1950.

In the late 1950s he twice unsuccessfully stood for election to Parliament in the Clitheroe division.

He also served as a member of Lancashire Police Authority for a number of years.

Great-Harwood-born Mr Rutter, who worked as a weaver and later an overlooker, was trade union secretary of Blackburn Weavers.

He was a member of the Disablement Advisory Committee for 13 years and member of the Knights of St Columba for 18 years.

His wife Nellie said: "He had such a busy life and did so many things."

A requiem mass will take place at St Wolstenholme Church in Great Harwood prior to interment at Great Harwood Cemetery, on Thursday at 10am.

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