Cllr Jim Kenny, 69, who served the town for more than 15 years, went to hospital with chest pains but a series of tests showed he had cancer that had spread to his bones.

Cllr Milan Radulovic, who has represented Eastwood on Broxtowe Borough Council alongside Cllr Kenny for 15 years said: "His family is absolutely devastated. It came as such a shock. They expected him to be treated for a bad chest, but to find out he had terminal cancer was a terrible shock. Eastwood has lost a true friend and a good representative."

Cllr Kenny, who represented Eastwood on the town council and borough council, had suffered chronic obstructive pulminory disease for several years and went to Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre struggling for breath on December 5. He was kept in, but because he was on antibiotics, tests could not be carried out until mid-week. He got the test results on December 12 but died the following morning at 2.30am.

Cllr Radulovic said: "He rang me from hospital on the Friday to tell me he had terminal cancer. Everyone was devastated.

"Jim was particularly well-liked by his colleagues for his loyalty and commitment to the Labour Party. He put in countless hours representing the interests of Eastwood people and he always put other people before himself. He was a loyal and true friend."

Cllr Kenny, of Princes Street, Eastwood, was also the chairman of Breathe Easy, an Eastwood support group for people with chest problems. Fellow group member Teresa Burgoyne said: "He was such a good man and always willing to help others. He was a man of Eastwood and an absolutely super chap."

He joined Eastwood Town Council in 1995 and Broxtowe Borough Council in 1999 and was Mayor of Broxtowe in 2003.

During the 60s, Cllr Kenny was instrumental in setting up a youth club at Langley Mill Working Men's Club. Aged 23, he was youth club committee chairman and made a huge success of it with guest bands including The Kinks playing at the club.

Cllr Kenny's family moved to Langley Mill in 1959 and he began working at Vic Hallam's factory before joining Midland General buses as a conductor in 1960.

He went on to work for Bonsers Mining Equipment at Giltbrook, J F Watsons, and British Coal at Moorgreen and finally Birnams Engineering at New Eastwood for ten years before retiring in 2000.

He leaves his wife Helen, two daughters, a son, five grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren. The funeral will take place at the Catholic Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Hill Top, Eastwood today at 2pm.

Flowers or donations to Breathe Easy can be sent to Eastwood and District Funeral Service.