A leading figure in Oxfordshire local politics died suddenly after giving an after-dinner speech at a fundraising evening.

Keith Stone, chairman of West Oxfordshire District Council and a county and town councillor for Carterton, is understood to have suffered a heart attack while at a St George's Day dinner at Greens Restaurant, Witney, on Saturday evening.

He was 65 and had recently retired from his job in the careers department at Oxford University.

Fellow district councillor David Harvey was sitting just a few places from Mr Stone at the dinner. He said: "He was giving a toast of thanks, a gentle, witty, amusing speech which lasted for about eight minutes.

"It was well received and then he sat down. He was continuing a conversation and that was it, he collapsed.

"It was so awful. It is still very difficult to talk about it. It was just all so sudden."

Council leader Barry Norton said: "What a tragedy. He was such an unflappable man. This happens when you least expect it. He was a really lovely person."

Janet Eustace, Carterton town clerk, said: "His wife and family are absolutely devastated."

Mr Stone was a candidate in local government elections for both town and district councils on May 3.

Election officers have now postponed those polls to a date yet to be fixed.

His duties as district council chairman are being taken over by vice chairman Roger Curry until the annual council meeting in May.

He leaves a wife, Sheila, and two married daughters.