A FORMER Warrington councillor and campaigner for the town's blind community died last week.

William Roberts passed away last Wednesday, aged 93, due to heart failure.

In 1981, he received an MBE for his work as the chairman of the Warrington District Society for the Blind.

The Appleton man was a borough councillor for more than 12 years and was made an alderman in 1974.

He was one of the chief organisers who started the Warrington Cassette - the talking newspaper for the blind community.

His wife, Genevieve, of Eversley Close, said: "I think he would like to be remembered for his work for the blind because he just liked being able to help people."

Mr Roberts met his wife in New York during the Second World War while serving as a navy seaman and they moved to Appleton at the end of the war.

The community worker turned his hand to a number of jobs, most notably as managing director of the family shoe store R Roberts and Son.

He leaves behind his wife, Genevieve and his two children, Richard, 51 and Sylvia, 52.

Son Richard said: "He was well respected and very community minded and if he had died 25 years ago his funeral would have filled the church."

The funeral is expected to have taken place this week.