Former Dorchester mayor John Antell, for many years the town's only Labour councillor, has died.

His death was announced at the annual meeting of the town council on Wednesday evening.

A spokesman for Dorchester Town Council said: "John was elected as a town councillor in west ward in 1987, following a career at County Hall, and having spent his youth serving below decks in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. He stood on a Labour ticket but Dorchester was always uppermost in his mind when making his views known; as a local he was proud of his distant relationship with Thomas Hardy.

"John served as mayor in 1994-95 and 1998-99. Being mayor gave him the opportunity to visit our twin town in Lubbecke, which left such an impression on him that he went on to become president of the Lubbecke Society.

"Having never lost an election, John retired from the council for health reasons in 2003 but always kept in touch and was a regular at mayor making and other events with his wife, Julie, who passed away three years ago. He particularly looked forward to those events that allowed him to keep up to date with our twin towns.

"John also served on West Dorset District Council during the same period. He will be missed."

The meeting was also told of the death of Royal British Legion stalwart Les Cuff who often spoke the exhortation at Remembrance services and co-ordinated the annual D-Day ceremonies at The Keep Military Museum.

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