TRIBUTES have been paid to a 'very popular and highly respected' former councillor who died after a three year battle with cancer.

Diana Brierley, aged 66, spent 12 years as a Conservative councillor for Bradshaw alongside her husband Paul Brierley.

She died at her home in Bolton on Monday after treatment at The Christie Hospital in Manchester and care through Bolton Hospice.

Mr Brierley said she loved her work as a councillor and thanked the medical professionals for all their care.

He added: "She really did enjoy representing the people she met in that role. She just loved the job.

"It was a great honour to her and the people knew that is she said she was going to do something it would get done.

"The hospice did an absolutely sterling job and we both have so much respect for them. The hospice team, district nurses and Macmillan nurses did a brilliant job and I want to say a massive thank you to them all."

Mrs Brierley first became a councillor in May 2000 and stayed in the role until March 2012 when both her and her husband stepped down because of work commitments.

The pair served alongside fellow Conservative councillor Walter Hall.

Mr Hall said: "I had the pleasure of serving on the council in Bradshaw with Diana and she was a great councillor.

"She was kind, caring and really enjoyed being a councillor. She was a friend to everybody in the community."

The couple had moved to Dursley in Gloucestershire as part of Mr Brierley's job as a quantity surveyor but returned soon after Mrs Brierley was diagnosed with cancer, in order to go through treatment at The Christie.

David Greenhalgh, Conservative Group leader, and former colleague of Diana Brierley, said: "We are all extremely sad to hear the news of Diana's death. Diana was a very popular and highly respected local councillor for Bradshaw.

"She was hard working and committed to making a difference. She had a great sense of humour, and she will be fondly remembered as a dear friend to many of us. We send our very best wishes to Paul and the family at this difficult time."

More details about Mrs Brierley's funeral are likely to be finalised in the coming days.