Former council leader dies, 69

Former Sandwell Council leader Bill Thomas has died.

The former Rowley ward member, who led the authority for nine years, passed away in hospital in Wales.

Tributes were being today paid to the 69-year-old.

Leading the tributes, Sandwell Council leader Councillor Darren Cooper, said: "Bill was a very good friend and a mentor and he helped me develop as a local councillor

."He did a tremendous lot of good in his many years here in Sandwell, and I think he will be sadly missed by all his colleagues in the Labour party."

The pensioner, formerly of Viking Rise, Rowley Regis, had a history of health problems during his time on the authority.

He died on Saturday.Mr Thomas was a former headteacher at Smethwick Hall Boys School before his retirement in 1992 and was awarded an OBE by the Queen in 2005.

He resigned as leader and councillor for Rowley in October after pleading guilty to theft, having been reimbursed for cheques paid to a close friend.