A "HUMBLE and respected" Bury councillor has died suddenly.

Cllr Susan Nuttall has been described as a "tireless champion" for Church ward where she served for more than six years after first being elected during a by-election in November 2012.

Cllr Nuttall was a member of the planning committee on Bury Council and had served as chair of Bury West township forum. She was also shadow cabinet member for communities between 2014 and 2019.

Cllr Andrea Simpson, deputy leader of Bury Council, said: “Cllr Nuttall was a well-respected and tireless champion for Church ward.

"Our deepest sympathies go to her family and friends at this very sad time.”

The dedicated Conservative councillor has been praised for "working tirelessly" on behalf of her constituents, and continuing in this role despite being faced with a recent illness.

She has been recognised for the "incredible support" she gave to her husband David while he was MP for Bury North between 2010 and 2017.

Paying tribute, fellow ward councillor Roy Walker said: "Part of Sue's role as a councillor and individual was supporting David.

"But she was a councillor in her own right in Bury, and prior to that in Ramsbottom. She was very committed and a very good Conservative activist, as well as chairwoman of the Conservative Ladies for many years, organising various fundraising functions to support the party.

"She was a Lancashire lass, and a very good long-distance runner in her younger days, competing for Lancashire in county competitions. I could never keep up with her when we delivered leaflets.

"Outside of politics, she was a committed church-goer. She put a lot of effort into the church and into various charities, serving the community wholeheartedly.

"She was a very decent person and very caring."

Cllr Nuttall studied foreign languages at the University of Sheffield, before entering the world of work as a solicitor.

In Bury, she served the community in various capacities, including as a warden at St Anne’s Church in Tottington, as secretary of Bury Society For Blind & Partially Sighted People, and as a school governor at Lowercroft Primary School, to name a few.

Paying tribute, Cllr James Daly, leader of the Conservative group on Bury Council, said: “Sue was a modest councillor who was not interested in personal glory or self-promotion.

"She was happiest working quietly behind the scenes – bringing people together to sort out problems and getting things done for the residents of Church ward.

"She was kind, gentle and thoughtful, and was always supportive of her husband, David, in his political work.

"She will be hugely missed as a colleague and as a friend.

"Our thoughts are with David and their families at this difficult time”.

Cllr Nuttall died on Tuesday morning at Fairfield General Hospital. A minute's silence is due to be held at the next meeting of Bury Council.