Former Lord Mayor of Oxford Peter Moss has died from a suspected heart attack.

Mr Moss, Lord Mayor in 2001/02, died at his home on Saturday, and his death prompted a tribute from city councillor leader Alex Hollingsworth at today's executive meeting.

Mr Moss first became a Labour city councillor in 1979, representing St Clement's ward, and then Littlemore.

He fought back tears after finally losing his St Mary's ward seat at the local elections in 2002 and still attended council meetings afterwards, watching the proceedings from the public gallery.

Mr Hollingsworth said: "Peter Moss, former Lord Mayor, colleague of all of us for many years, died at the weekend.

"Peter was somebody who served this city and the city council so well for many years."

Councillors observed a minute's silence before the meeting.

See tomorrow's Oxford Mail for a full tribute.