PETER Evans wanted to be Mayor of Hereford; he has died just a year short of that ambition being realised.

The flag at half-mast over Hereford Town Hall on Monday was backed by a personal tribute from another long-serving city politician.

George Hyde, leader of the Independent Group on Herefordshire Council, has known Mr Evans since high school.

He was, says Mr Hyde, as amiable then as he was when in local government.

Mr Evans had represented the council's former Holmer ward - now Burghill, Holmer and Lyde -for many years. He did not contest the new seat at the last election.

Early last year while still a county councillor, Mr Evans locked horns with his Liberal Democrat group over the move of Hereford cattle market to Burghill and became an Independent.

That market move has now been abandoned.

Up until his death - after a long illness - at St Michael's Hospice on Sunday, Mr Evans had been a member of Hereford City Council and deputy mayor.

"It is particularly sad that Peter's ambition to become mayor of his city will not be realised. We shall miss him very much," said Mr Hyde.