FORMER Torfaen council leader Brian Smith died yesterday after a long battle with cancer and a brain tumour.

Mr Smith, 63, who had been council leader for 20 years before stepping down earlier this year, died at Panteg Hospital.

His wife Jean, 59, was with her husband when he died. She said today: "I held his hand."

And she paid tribute to his battle against a brain tumour which was diagnosed last July. She said: "He was determined."

The former Fairwater councillor was diagnosed with the tumour ten years after beating prostate cancer.

Doctors removed most of the tumour, but delivered the devastating news he would not live to see his 70s. He decided to stand down as a councillor at June's local elections.

Mr and Mrs Smith celebrated their Ruby wedding anniversary in March.

They have two sons, Jason, 34, and Paul, 32.

The couple also had two grandchildren, Charlotte, six, and three-year-old James.

"We've got another one on the way," said Mrs Smith, adding that the family had hoped Mr Smith would survive to see his new grandchild.

Earlier this year, the Argus interviewed Mr Smith. He spoke candidly about his illness and his determination to beat it.

Mr Smith said: "I thought, 'Here I go down again'.

"I was very ill and when people came to see me they thought I was on the way out. I was determined I wasn't. I got over the prostate cancer and I thought I've got to get over this."

Torfaen MP Paul Murphy, the Northern Ireland secretary, said he was "deeply saddened" by his friend's death, describing him as "outstanding".

Mr Murphy said: "Brian was a very close friend of mine for over 35 years."

The pair represented Fairwater and Henllys together as councillors from 1973 to 1987.

Mr Murphy said: "Brian was an outstanding, well-known and well-liked politician who especially made invaluable contributions in the provision of housing for working people over many years."

The MP said Mr Smith was a "true socialist" and would be greatly missed.

Mr Smith's civic funeral is expected to be held on Friday, July 30, at St Gabriel's Church, Cwmbran, and later at Gwent Crematorium in Cwmbran.