COUNCILLORS fell silent for a minute ahead of last week's full meeting of Craven District Council out of respect for former colleague, the late Andy Quinn.

Cllr Quinn, whose funeral took place in Skipton on Friday, was the member for Embsay and a former chairman of the council.

Council leader, Cllr Richard Foster, said Cllr Quinn, the fourth serving member of the council to have died in the past two years, will be sorely missed.

Cllr Foster added he was one of the first councillors he had met when he joined the local authority, and he had always enjoyed the time he had spent with him.

"He was a hard-working councillor in Embsay and he really enjoyed his time as chairman – he will be greatly missed," he said.

Cllr Foster said he would also miss Conservative group meetings being interrupted by Cllr Quinn's distinctive ring-tone on his mobile phone – Manfred Mann's The Mighty Quinn!

Cllr Philip Barrett (Ind) described Cllr Quinn as a "true gent".

He added: "I only ever had one cross word with him on the council – we got on very well. He was a true gentleman and will be sadly missed."

Cllr Quinn was a member of the council's planning committee, the standards committee and vice-chairman of the select committee. He was also a former member and chairman of the licensing committee.

His widow, Gill, is also a member of the council and represents the Barden Fell ward.