The warmth and friendliness of Pauline Hillary - and above all her smile - are mentioned in the hundreds of tributes which have poured into City Hall since her death after a public engagement last month.

Lord Mayor Councillor Allan Hillary described how she had given her "full whack" as Lady Mayoress at a garden party at Eccleshill Methodist Church before she went home and became ill.

And today he paid tribute to his wife, a former teacher, who lived cheerfully from day-to-day and always remained positive even though she had been diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas in May last year.

The news came shortly before Coun Hillary was invited by the Liberal Democrat group to be Lord Mayor.

But he said: "From the day it was diagnosed she never used the word cancer. She believed absolutely that God would give her guidance and support. She only looked at the positive.

"If word came in that anyone at work had had a baby or became ill she was always the one who went out and got a card for people to sign. She was that sort of person.

"A lot of people from all political parties were happy when I was asked to be Lord Mayor.

"Pauline wanted me to do it and I thought we had something to offer.

"She had tremendous religious strength and was not thinking about death in any shape or form. She was not thinking of it at the time of death. But in terms of the way she was, she was always prepared.

"I always called her affectionately my manager and she would have wanted me to carry on.

"Her illness was put on the back burner and so many people have mentioned her smile."

He said the Nell Bank Centre, near Ilkley, one of his charities for the year, had agreed to provide a sensory garden in her memory which people with sight problems and disabilities would enjoy.

"It is exactly what she would have wanted," he said.

The Lord Mayor's nieces, Penny Silson, Diane Littlewood and Helen Cockerill will now take turns to accompany him to civic events.

And Coun Hillary said the decision which he and the Lady Mayoress had taken to put cohesion top of the agenda in their civic year would continue with all groups in the community being recognised.

He said: "It isn't the number of cards and letters I have received, it is about what they say. She has touched so many lives.

"We thought we were Mr and Mrs average and becoming Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress was a very great honour."

The Lord Mayor's chaplain, the Reverend Geoff Reid, said: "The civic affairs team at City Hall give brilliant support to the Lord and Lady Mayoresses. They have had a special role this year in sad circumstances.

"I think the Lord Mayor is aware of the affection in which he is held by so many people and the support they offer."