Tributes were today paid to a former Essex mayor who died with his wife and daughter in a plane crash in Scotland.

John Smith, 56, his wife Angela and their 25-year-old daughter Jacqueline are believed to have taken off from Connell Airfield, near Oban, in a light aircraft on Monday.

The wreckage of their PA-28R turbo Cherokee Arrow was found on remote farmland near Argyll, Scotland, at 3.30pm on Tuesday.

The family were due to stop at Blackpool, before flying on to Andrewsfield airfield near Great Sailing.

Mr Smith, who was Mayor of Burnham from 1993 to 1995, was also a town councillor and a district councillor.

Burnham Town Council clerk David McNeill said: "He was a highly-intelligent and extremely quick man who had a great sense of humour.

"He loved and enjoyed life.It is a tragedy for the town, the village and the district.

"He was a true Burnham man who loved the town and loved his family.

"Angela was an absolutely lovely lady who didn't have a bad word to say about anyone, she was a true lady.

"I am just absolutely gutted."

The cause of the crash is still unknown.

  • Leave your tributes and condolences below