TRIBUTES have been paid to a longstanding Clacton councillor.

Roy Smith, who represented Golf Green on Tendring Council, died on Saturday at the age of 83.

He served 40 years on the district council and stepped down last May after 37 years on Essex County Council.

He is survived by his wife Cynthia and son Kevin.

Tendring First colleague Pierre Oxley paid tribute to a man he “respected immensely”.