TRIBUTES have been paid to a former councillor following her death.

Former Park Ward member Christine Borgars died on Sunday at the age of 75 and her former colleague John Howarth was one of the first to pay his respects.

Ms Borgars represented her ward from 1994 to 2006 and served alongside the Labour MEP for South East England for five years.

Mr Howarth said: "There was no more diligent a local councillor than Christine. [She] cared deeply about good local government and doing the job properly.

"Week in, week out Christine gave her time to the community and for charitable causes.

"She was still doing so when she was very ill indeed. This included, in particular, work with young people at Reading’s Pakistan Community Centre, where she ran computer classes and provided invaluable advice.

"Invaluable because Christine would tell people what they needed to hear, not necessarily what they wanted to hear - that is what a good friend does."

Ms Borgars worked as a systems analyst and used her computer skills to help disadvantaged young people from a range of ethnic backgrounds by running sessions in Park Hall on London Road.

She was also heavily involved with charity work and chaired the council's Traffic Management Committee.

Mr Howarth added: "Christine was an essential part of Reading Labour’s political and electoral organisation for nearly a quarter of a century.

"She processed and organised the data that helped Labour get its message to the voters and made a significant contribution to Labour’s use of technology well beyond Reading - one of the unsung heroes on which public life depends.

"Christine was a trade unionist and a socialist who did more than talk the talk - she lived the life - putting the welfare of others before her own.

"She was selfless, tireless, loyal to a fault, harmlessly eccentric and didn’t seem to need sleep. Reading Labour came to love her dearly. She has left us far too soon. She will be much missed."