The Labour party in the Dean has lost another giant with the death of Lydney stalwart Frank Williams.

The 82-year-old councillor died this week after a short illness.

The death of the former district council planning chairman has come as a shock to colleagues.

Coun Williams returned to front line politics in May after being voted on to Lydney Town Council.

Colleagues believed the father-of-two was recovering after having an operation just over a week ago.

A one minute silence was held at Lydney Town Council and the

District council Chairman Norman Stephens said councillors were saddened by the news.

"As a councillor he was very hardworking, not just for his area of Lydney, but for the district as a whole, getting us funding through the Coalfields Communities Campaign," he said.

"We are thinking of his family at this difficult time."