TONY Humphries, the former leader of Cherwell District Council, died in hospital on Wednesday.

Mr Humphries was a Cherwell district councillor between 1979 and 1982, and then 1983 and 2001. He was leader of the council between 1995 and 2000.

Fellow councillor Pat Cartledge said: "His socialist views and values inspired me to first join the Labour Party.

"He was a true people person who could communicate at all levels with compassion, understanding and humour.

"He was a great orator who could put over his point of view so that even his most hardened opponent would be swayed into agreeing with him."

Leader of Cherwell District Council, Barry Wood, said: "Tony was a pal, even though we disagreed about lots of things.

"Truth be told, we both enjoyed disagreeing with each other."