TRIBUTES have been paid to a former Echo columnist and councillor who sadly died on Monday morning.

Ric Morgan died age at the age of 71 from a heart attack.

As well as being a columnist and Southend councillor, Mr Morgan was a commentator on BBC Essex Radio Airshow which was heard by hundreds of thousands of people and was the producer of the County Trail.

Fellow councillors have paid tributes to the man who was described as “a one-off character” and known in the council chamber for his outspoken views.

Independent councillor, Stephen Aylen, said that Mr Morgan was a dedicated councillor who spoke his mind.

He said: “He was a councillor and he was very good at it. Lots of people dismissed him but he wasn’t afraid to speak out and say something when he thought it was needed.

“I don’t think people realised how good a councillor he was. He had a very sensible approach and he always asked for things to be checked correctly – he would ask the right questions.

“He did ‘sanity checks’ which were the obvious questions like when the new council website was built, he wanted to make sure it was accessible for everyone.

“He made such a difference but lots of people didn’t realise. He always worked hard in the background and never needed the recognition.”

Independent councillor, Mike Assenheim, added: “It was a great shock when I heard the news. I am truly sorry – he was always a very active councillor and member of the independent group.

“He was a nice guy, worked with people, quite outspoken at times but well-liked by those he helped. He will be sorely missed by people he worked with and helped.”

Mr Morgan was first elected in Prittlewell in 2007 as a Lib Dem councillor and retained his seat in 2012.

Over the years, he also became known for having strong views on what he felt was his party’s lack of policies for the town.

In 2012 Mr Morgan announced he was quitting the Lib Dems, claiming his local colleagues were “lacking in vision”, changing to sit as an Independent.

Alan Crystall, who was a Lib Dem councillor, said: “He was a good colleague, very interesting and well informed.

“He was very outspoken and found it difficult to work as a group, but he was a one-off character and added to our lives.”

Tory councillor, Tony Cox, tweeted: “So sad to hear of the death of former Lib Dem councillor Ric Morgan. An independent thinker, never afraid to speak his mind. Rest in Peace Ric.”