TRIBUTES have been paid to Peter Moss, the former Lord Mayor of Oxford, who has died aged 73.

Mr Moss, of Circus Street, East Oxford, died at his home on Saturday of a suspected heart attack.

He leaves a wife, Margaret, and two children, Sarah and Marcus.

Mr Moss, a teacher and self-employed taxi driver, first became a Labour city councillor in 1979, representing St Clement's ward until 1996, and Littlemore between 1998 and 2002. He served as chairman of the authority's public affairs committee and was Lord Mayor in 2001/02.

Mr Moss fought back tears after losing his seat at the 2002 local elections, but still attended council meetings afterwards, watching the proceedings from the public gallery.

On Monday, members of Oxford City Council's executive committee observed a minute's silence before their meeting started.

Leader Alex Hollingsworth said: "Peter was somebody who served this city and the city council so well for many years."

Mr Moss spent his childhood in Folkestone, Kent, the son of an English father and French mother. He came to Oxford to teach at Barton Junior School and met his wife in the city.

Veteran city councillor Bill Baker, who retires from office at next month's city elections, said: "Peter was a great servant of the city and will be sadly missed."