FORMER Lord Mayor of Bradford, John Godward, died this morning at the age of 70.

Mr Godward served as a district councillor for 35 years and when he began his mayoral year in 2009 he was the authority’s longest-serving elected member.

The Union flag flying over City Hall was today lowered to half-mast as a mark of respect.

The leader of Bradford Council, and its Labour group, Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, paid tribute to her former colleague.

She said: “I am hugely saddened to hear of the death of John Godward.

“He was a great councillor for many years serving the Great Horton ward and personally, he was very kind to me when I was a new councillor.”

Councillor Joanne Dodds (Lab, Great Horton), his former ward colleague, said: "I have known John since before I beame a councillor, through work in the community, and when I was elected in 2006 he really mentored me.

"He was very wise because of his experience and he has guided me so much and helped me on the way.

"He was a lovely man, a straight-talker - you always knew where you were with him - but he had a big heart and would do anything for anyone."

Mr Godward served as a Labour councillor for Great Horton until his retirement last year, and had also sat on the West Yorkshire Fire Authority.

His mayoral year saw him raise money for two good causes: Bradford and District Senior Power and the Little Heroes Cancer Trust.