����ý

Tributes have been paid to a former MP who died last week at the age of 86.

Sir Colin Shepherd represented the Hereford constituency between October 1974 and May 1997.

Local Conservative Association chair Anthea McIntyre said Sir Colin was “very much a local man.”

He was a life patron of the Hereford and South Herefordshire Conservative Association and remained involved in local politics after he lost his parliamentary seat.

“I’ve known him ever since I first got involved in politics, he was always a fantastic mentor,” said Ms McIntyre.

“He was born and bred in Herefordshire, very much a local man, and he’s going to be very missed by our members who appreciated all he did for us.”

She said Sir Colin came from a politically active family and his mother Dame Margaret Shepard was chair of the Conservative Women's Organisation.

Current Hereford MP Jesse Norman said Sir Colin would be remembered as “a great public servant.”

He said: “He was the most delightful man, incredibly gentle and thoughtful and public-spirited.

“I enormously valued our friendship, I felt honoured to have known him."

Sir Colin is survived by three sons and his wife, Lady Lou Shepherd.

Follow ����ý West Midlands on , and . Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk, external