Tribute has been paid to long serving Sutton councillor Thomas (Tommy) Carter, who has died aged 79.

Mr Carter served an amazing 39 years as a district councillor and 37 years as a parish councillor.

Born in South Shields, he moved to Keighley as a child, and after leaving school, went to work at Roberts' dyeworks in the town.

On the outbreak of the Second World War, he joined Black Watch, and was awarded both the Italian and African stars before being seriously wounded in action.

He was treated at a field hospital in Italy for six months, and when he had sufficiently recovered, he was transferred into the Royal Army Medical Corps.

Mr Carter married his wife, Joan, at the end of the war, and they set up home together in Sutton.

After coming out of the army in 1946, he went into the textile industry, but found it hard to settle.

He eventually got a job as a weaving overlooker at Hill, Benson and Baileys, in Silsden.

But it was for his public work that he was best known. He was elected to Skipton Rural District Council in 1952, and remained on the authority until its demise on local government reorganisation. He then served on the new Craven District Council for 18 years.

He had two terms as chairman - one with Skipton RDC in 1967-1968, and again with Craven Council in 1978-79.

"The council was his life. He served on every committee at one time or another, but his favourite was public health," recalled his wife.

Mr Carter was also a Sutton parish councillor for 37 years, serving several terms as chairman, and was a governor at all the local schools, including South Craven, Sutton County Primary, Sutton C of E and Glusburn.

He was also closely involved with the Royal British Legion, and was presented with his gold badge two years ago for "notable and conspicuous service".

He had been a member of the Cross Hills branch for 52 years, was the local Poppy Appeal organiser, served on the county committee, and was chairman of the Craven District Group and the county disciplinary committee.

Craven district secretary Eric Almond said the Legion owed Mr Carter a great debt of gratitude.

"Without him, the Cross Hills branch, and even the Craven district group might have closed.

"He turned them around. He has left us a great legacy, and we must make sure they continue as a tribute to him."

Mr Carter was also a former chairman of Cross Hills Youth Club, a founder member of the Cross Hills and District Hospital Friends and local Meals on Wheels service, was secretary of the Old Age Pensioners' Association for many years, and was a church warden at St Thomas's Church, Sutton. He was a member of Sutton Bowling Club, played snooker at Cross Hills Conservative Club, where he was a vice-president, and, in his younger days, acted as a medical trainer for Cross Hills Football Club.

"Tommy would help anyone," said Joan.

A funeral service was held at St Thomas's on Wednesday, which was attended by standard bearers from the Royal British Legion, and the chairman of Craven District Council, Cllr Peter Walbank.