A PLANNING committee has paid tribute to two Councillors who have died in the past month.

Councillor Abid Hussain (Lab, Keighley Central) died of Covid 19 on Christmas Eve.

And Councillor Mike Ellis (Cons, Bingley Rural) died earlier this week following a battle with cancer.

Both men have sat on Bradford Council's Regulatory and Appeals Committee - a planning panel that makes decisions on the biggest planning applications.

Former Bradford Lord Mayor Abid Hussain dies from Covid-19

At the latest meeting of the Committee yesterday Chair Councillor David Warburton paid tribute to the late Councillors.

Of Abid Hussain, who recently served as Lord Mayor of Bradford, he said: "he was a close friend and fellow Labour party members for many, many years.

"He will sorely missed, and our thoughts go to his family and friends."

Tributes paid after well liked Bingley Rural Councillor Mike Ellis dies

Referring to Mike Ellis he said: "He was chair of this committee for many years. He was a close friend, and although he was from a different party we worked together very closely. Like many members of this panel, he worked for the good of the District. He had a great understanding of planning, of flooding, and of the community he served. He will be sorely missed, and a great loss to the District."