TRIBUTES have been paid to a former councillor who has died following a battle with cancer.

St Helens Borough Council has expressed sadness following the passing of Gill Neal on Monday.

Gill served on the local authority for four years after being elected as a Labour councillor to represent the Windle ward in 2016.

During her time on the council, Gill held the cabinet role for public health and wellbeing from 2017-18.

She later served as an independent councillor.

Cllr Neal resigned from the local authority in 2020 after being diagnosed with breast cancer earlier that year.

Gill passed away at Willowbrook Hospice on the evening of Monday, October 25, aged 49.

She was a loving wife and a doting mother.

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St Helens Borough Council chief executive, Kath O'Dwyer, said: “Despite originally coming from outside the area, Gill was passionate about our borough and was a great advocate for raising awareness of health issues - so to battle as long as she did, doing so with such a positive mindset, says a lot about the strong character she was.

“On behalf of St Helens Borough Council, my deepest condolences go out to her family and friends at this sad time.”

As a mark of respect, the council corporate flag will fly at half-mast on the day of Gill's funeral, details of which are to be confirmed.