TRIBUTES have poured in for much-loved Wantage councillor Jim Moley, who passed away suddenly, just days after his 70th birthday.

The three-time mayor of the town was found dead in his bed last Friday evening, at his house in The Cloisters, Wantage.

Friends, supporters and political rivals have remembered Mr Moley, a Liberal Democrat, as utterly devoted to Wantage.

They say his death leaves an enormous void in the town.

Wantage mayor Lorraine Todd paid tribute to Mr Moley, saying she "valued his judgement and knowledge".

She said: "As mayor, I was frequently asking his advice. He always made time for me, no matter how busy he was.

"He lived and breathed Wantage and worked so hard for the community. He was a real inspiration to me."

Fellow councillor and close friend Jenny Hannaby, remembered Mr Moley's "immense enthusiasm and energy", saying he was at the forefront of all local issues.

Mr Moley was a Wantage town councillor for 25 years and was mayor in 1988, 1996 and 1997.

A Grove and Wantage county councillor, he was elected to Oxfordshire County Council in 1997 having been a member of the Vale of White Horse District Council since 1991.

He took early retirement from the civil service to commit himself full-time to Wantage.

Members of Wantage Town Council said he was one of the town's personalities and said Wantage would not be the same.

Fellow Wantage town councillor Julia Reynolds said: "Jim often told me that he absolutely loved living in Wantage and he would not want to live anywhere else. He did not just live in Wantage - he lived it and breathed it. His loss will be immeasurable - not just to the town council, but to Wantage and the Vale."

Anne Chynoweth, a close friend of Mr Moley for more than 30 years and a former mayor of Wantage and a district councillor, said: "He really had Wantage at heart and he would do anything for the town."

Mr Moley served in the Royal Air Force during the war, ending his service in 1960. He was based in Cyprus during the National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters campaign, during which he won the General Service Medal.

A graduate of Oxford University, Mr Moley went on to get a masters degree in industrial relations at the London School of Economics, before becoming a customs inspector and civil servant.

He has been praised by community groups for his commitment to their causes.

He was president of Wantage Silver Band, founder chairman of the Wantage Summer Festival and involved with organising the Wantage Arts Festival. He also supported the community hospital, the Vale and Downland Museum, Scouts and the Dickensian committee, among other organisations.

He was a governor of King Alfred's Community & Sports College and Charlton Primary School.

Eleanor Turner, chairman of Wantage Silver Band, said his knowledge of Wantage was unique. She said his death would "leave a void which would be hard to fill".

She added: "Many a time when playing carols on a cold and damp winter evening, Jim would turn up on his bike and help with the collecting. On Christmas Eve, complete with top hat and full gentleman's dress, he accompanied a group carol playing at various country pubs until after midnight, and later, on Christmas Day as town crier, he led the band and singers around the town."

Councillor Zoe Patrick, leader of the Lib Dems at Oxfordshire County Council, was Mr Moley's fellow Grove and Wantage representative at County Hall.

She said: "This is such a shock. Jim was part and parcel of life in Wantage and very proud of the town. His contribution was immense. He was a tireless worker and was involved with a number of local voluntary and community groups. All of us will sorely miss him."

Wantage MP Ed Vaizey, said Mr Moley was "always chirpy and full of good humour".