Tributes paid to 'smart, thoughtful and caring' East Riding councillor Paul Lisseter following his death aged 58

A colleague had spoken to the East Wolds and Coastal councillor on Thursday evening and he had seemed fine, said Conservative leader of East Riding Council Councillor Jonathan Owen who said it was a "great loss".

Coun Owen said: "He had been a very close colleague and became a close friend. I will certainly miss him."

Coun Owen said Coun Lisseter was an "excellent councillor" who challenged the status quo and was "forthright, open and said things how they were." He was also an “exceedingly proud grandfather”.

Coun Paul Nickerson said he was "utterly shattered" by the news, tweeting: "He was an extremely fine, smart, thoughtful, and caring person who put so many others first, a tragic and irreplaceable loss. Thoughts are with his family at this time."

In April Coun Lisseter, who ran Williamsfield Developments, was expelled from the Conservative Party after flagging up failings by East Riding Council to deliver on housing.

His expulsion came in the wake of a Planning Inspectorate ruling overturning the refusal of hundreds of homes in Pocklington and Swanland.

Coun Lisseter said it was a case of “shoot the messenger” as he had made a statement to the public inquiry into the housing scheme in Pocklington where he raised issues, including the council not delivering enough new homes. He had since sat as an Independent.