A MINUTE'S silence will be held this week in memory of a long-serving Labour councillor who died just days after being re-elected.

Councillor Richard Body, who was in his late 50s, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Tuesday (May 9).

He had served as a councillor on Dudley Council for nearly 20 years since 2004, and was re-elected to represent the Cradley and Wollescote ward in the early hours of Friday May 5.

Tributes have been paid over the last few days to Cllr Body, who was a grandfather and married father-of-two with a passion for marathon running and cycling.

He was also chairman of the Friends of Homer Hill Park, Cradley, and in the days before his death had launched a fundraiser to build the first pump track in the Stourbridge/Halesowen area to provide a fun course with slopes and humps for bikes, scooters and skateboards in the park.

Now council bosses have announced they will mark his dedicated service to the local authority and community by holding a minute’s silence before the meeting of full council on Thursday night (May 18).

Sue Greenaway, the Mayor of Dudley, said: "I was very saddened to hear of Councillor Body’s sudden passing, which has come as a great shock to everyone on the council.

"Richard served nearly 20 years as a councillor, and was voted back in by the people of Cradley and Wollescote at the election earlier this month.

"He was liked and respected on both sides of the council chamber, and our thoughts are with his family at this time."

Fellow Cradley and Wollescote councillor Tim Crumpton described Cllr Body as a "man with tremendous passion and compassion" and a "fighter for so many causes" and he asked people to honour him by supporting the pump track fundraiser.

He said: "By helping raise funds for the pump track we can leave the lasting legacy he deserves."