TRIBUTES are being paid to a to a former Torfaen councillor described as 'Mr Blaenavon'.

Former Blaenavon councillor Dennis Puddle, who was in his 90s, died last week.

Well-known and well-respected for the work he achieved in Blaenavon, Mr Puddle was a miner at Big Pit and went on to represent his fellow workers as a trade union officer with the National Union of Miners.

He was an active councillor for Blaenavon for several decades and was chairman of the Blaenavon Urban District Council between 1960-1961 and 1969-1970.

Mr Puddle was also a Torfaen councillor and deputy leader of the council.

He served as Mayor of Torfaen in 1976/77 with his late wife Alice as Mayoress.

Torfaen MP Paul Murphy said: "Dennis Puddle was one of the finest public servants our valley has known."

Mr Murphy said his experience was huge and that this led him to take a very full and active part in the Welsh Local Government Association.

He said: "As well as being a good socialist, Dennis was also a great personal friend of mine and he will be missed by many, many people in Torfaen. He was a man of great ability, huge commitment and could justifiably be called 'Mr. Blaenavon'."

Mr Puddle's early trade union work bought him a BEM whilst his services to local government and to the community in Blaenavon earned him an OBE from the Queen in 1999.

The leader of Torfaen council, councillor Bob Wellington, described Mr Puddle as a "giant" within Blaenavon and the borough and paid tribute to his involvement in the Big Pit Museum and the Workmen's Hall which he said will always be remembered fondly as Puddle's Palace.

Cllr Wellington said: "His passing is a great loss and he will be sorely missed."

Trevethin councillor John Marshall served on the National Union of Miners with Mr Puddle, said: "He was first class in every way and will be sadly missed by the people of Torfaen and particularly the people of Blaenavon."