A FORMER mayor and Hayes councillor, who lived in the area for more than 55 years, has died at the age of 94.

Bert Tyrrell, who received an MBE in recognition of his service to the community, died of natural causes on June 9 at Hillingdon Hospital.

Mr Tyrrell served his country during the Second World War, where he was severely injured by a bomb in Libya in 1940, but recovered after spending three years in and out of hospital.

He ran a car showroom called Quality Cars in Southall Broadway for more than 25 years and later opened a sweet shop called the Nutshell in Uxbridge Road, Hayes.

He was a magistrate at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court between 1959 and 1984, as well as being the chairman of the Hayes Older People's Welfare committee for more than 35 years.

His wife died 18 years ago and he now leaves behind his 65 year old son Keith, his daughter-in-law, four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Keith, of Pole Hill Road, Hillingdon, said: "My dad wanted to get involved in the community and help other people because he was just that sort of person.

"While he was selling cars people would ask him if he would join an organisation they were involved with and that's how he took on so many roles.

"Many people used to say he was like the famous TV character, Arthur Daley, and that perhaps the character was based on him."

He said his father always used to smoke a large cigar and he would have a small whisky in the evening.

He added: "People just liked to be with him, they liked him and they liked his sense of humour.

"He lived with us for the last seven years of his life. He wasn't just a father to me, but a friend as well.

"In fact, he used to tell me not to call him dad but to call him Bert, because he said he wanted people to think he was my brother.

"His passing away has left a massive gap in our lives, we still expect him to be here with us because he had been here so long."

He explained his father had a fall on June 6 when he was trying to get on to his mobility scooter and following this had to be taken to hospital with heart complaints. He died two days later.

Councillor David Simmonds, chairman of Hayes and Harlington Conservative Association, said: "Bert served the community of Hayes and Harlington with distinction, both as a councillor and in his voluntary work. His death is a sad loss to the community of Hillingdon."