A tireless public servant has died after a ‘long and difficult’ battle with illness.

Tributes have poured in for former Accrington county councillor Doreen Pollitt who died aged 68 on Saturday.

Doreen, who was ‘red right through’, campaigned with several East Lancashire Labour MPs and served as deputy leader of Lancashire County Council for eight years.

The Labour stalwart remained active with the party until 2013 when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s two years ago.

Doreen’s sister-in-law Josephine Pollitt said that she would be ‘sorely missed’ by all who knew her.

She said: “We were very close to Doreen, she was a brilliant woman taken far too young.

“We grew incredibly close to her as she lived with us for two years before moving into a nursing home when her condition deteriorated.

“To watch an intelligent, vibrant woman deteriorate because of this cruel disease was very difficult.

Josephine, of Southport, added: “She was a tireless public servant and was red right through, she was like a stick of rock.”

Doreen was born and brought up in Coppull, near Chorley before moving to Accrington in the 1970s to help with the local Labour party.

Her first political campaigning was alongside Barbara Castle, then MP for Blackburn, on the issue of equal pay for women workers.

She was elected to Lancashire County Council in 1989 and was chair of social services for four years before becoming deputy leader in 2001.

In September 2010, Doreen was recognized for her services to the Labour Party and was presented with a national award at the conference in Manchester by Ed Miliband and Harriet Harman.

Miles Parkinson, Hyndburn council leader, said: “Doreen had a passion for politics and was a stalwart of the party, representing Accrington West for many years.

“She worked tirelessly for people in Lancashire and across the borough, her passing is a very sad loss."

Coun Jennifer Mein, leader of Lancashire County Council, said: "Doreen served Lancashire as a county councillor for many years, including as deputy leader of the council from 2001 to 2009.

"On behalf of the county council, I’d like to offer our condolences to Doreen's family and friends.

"During her many years serving on the county council, Doreen wanted to make sure that Lancashire's voice was heard and contributed to the work of many committees.

"She really cared about people and gave a lot of her time to help them.

"On a personal note, Doreen was extremely kind, supportive and helpful to me as a new county councillor. When I became a cabinet member, she was my mentor and was always approachable and very encouraging. I will miss her terribly."

Former Hyndburn MP Greg Pope, who Doreen campaigned with to win three elections, said she was a ‘role model’.

Mr Pope took to Twitter to say: “Very sorry to hear of the passing of Doreen Pollitt. A role model, a leader, rooted in the values of the party and the people she stood for.”