A stalwart Keighley Labour councillor and campaigner for pensioners' rights has died at the age of 80.

Former Keighley South councillor Felvus Sunderland died peacefully in hospital last Friday.

Friends and family say that even though he had been unwell for some time Mr Sunderland, of Sandywood Street, had remained active right up until his death.

Described as an old school Labour member, he first represented the party as a councillor on the Manningham ward for four years from 1976.

He then stood unsuccessfully for the Keighley North seat in the early eighties before winning the Keighley South seat in 1987. He served the ward until his retirement from politics in 1995.

Keighley South Labour councillor John Prestage knew Mr Sunderland for many years and served as vice chairman of Keighley College governors when Mr Sunderland was chairman.

He paid tribute to Mr Sunderland at the full meeting of Bradford council on Tuesday afternoon.

Councillor Prestage says: "Although Felvus was a quiet and reserved person he had plenty of fire when putting his point of view over and his forthright comments will be missed.

"He was a very strong trade unionist right up until his retirement, and even after he finished work he kept active in the community.

"He will be sadly missed, not only by his friends in the Labour Party and trade union movement, but also the friends he made outside of that."

Mr Sunderland and his late wife, Mary, had three children. He worked for 21 years as an engineer at Keighley Lifts and was the works convenor there.

He served as chairman of governors at Keighley College from 1979 until 1983 and was Keighley's only representative on Bradford council's education committee in 1991.

He was a member of the West Yorkshire Fire Authority from 1989 to 1995 and served as deputy chairman of its finance committee.

A keen rugby league fan, he served as treasurer of Keighley Rugby League Supporters' Club for many years.

Mr Sunderland was a committee member of Keighley and District Association for the Blind from 1988 and was chairman of the charity's Mary Arnold Award.

He was secretary of Keighley and District Pensioners' Action Group and campaigned for many years for an increase in the basic state pension.

Chairman Maurice Bassinder says: "Felvus was probably one of the most stalwart workers for Keighley pensioners of his time.

"He was still a very active member and was looking forward to going to the Pensioners' Parliament in Gateshead in September."

Keighley College principal Doug Hardaker, who was appointed when Mr Sunderland was chair of governors, says: "Staff, students and board members are shocked and saddened to hear of the recent death of Felvus, and we extend our sympathies to his family. Only a few days before he died Felvus, in his own inimitable style, had asked me to speak to the pensioners' action group, which I was delighted to do, and Felvus was there for what was a very enjoyable occasion."

His funeral will be held at Keighley Shared Church on Monday morning, followed by interment at Oxenhope Cemetery.

He is survived by his children Katheryn, Allan and Steven.