FRIENDS, colleagues and political rivals have paid tribute to one of the leading lights in the county's Labour Party, Brian Hodgson.

Mr Hodgson had been admitted to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, with heart problems and died on Saturday, aged 68.

Tributes have been pouring in to the family home in Stonesfield.

The Tory chairman of Oxfordshire County Council, Keith Mitchell, said: "Here was a man for whom the word gentleman could have been invented.

"He had the character and leadership skills that a front-line politician requires as part of his armoury, but he was also charming and polite.

"Brian will be hugely missed and I know that his loss has stunned people both at Oxfordshire County Council and in the area that he represented so ably for many years." Mr Hodgson was a former leader of the Labour group on the county council and served as councillor for Charlbury and surrounding villages. He was born in Blackheath, London, and spent his childhood in Wensleydale, Yorkshire.

He went to Durham University, from where he graduated in politics and economics and, after gaining a teaching diploma at Oxford, settled at Stonesfield in 1966, becoming a lecturer at the city's college of further education until his retirement eight years ago.

His strong Labour Party background involved not just an immersion in local politics, but also activity with traditional socialist issues, including the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, the Workers' Education Association and the annual Levellers Day at Burford.

He was also a chairman of the West Oxfordshire branch of the United Nations Association and took a leading role in the branch's fundraising of £32,000 for the Adopt A Minefield scheme.

Up to his death, Mr Hodgson was also chairman of the Witney constituency Labour Party.

Membership secretary Colin Carritt said: "He was a man, regardless of what political party he represented, who always worked very hard for his constituents in Charlbury.

"I know there were many people who did not share his politics but voted for him on that basis.

"He also did a tremendous amount of work promoting sign language for deaf people."

Mr Hodgson was first elected to the county council in 1993, winning two further elections until losing his seat in 2005.

In 1998 he became the leader of the Labour group. In 2001 there was an unsuccessful attempt to form an administration with the Liberal Democrats and he stepped down as leader in 2003, becoming shadow executive member for schools for a year.

While serving on the county council, Mr Hodgson led campaigns to save three respite centres for disabled children, the banning of traffic from the Ridgeway, increased funding for British sign language interpreters and the introduction of new council tax bands.

He leaves a widow, Penny, and two sons, Dan, 41, and Steve, 38. Funeral arrangements have yet to be decided.

His son Steve said: "He was involved in more things than you can imagine.

"We have been overwhelmed with tributes and emails and so many messages of support."