Shock at death of veteran Sandwell councillor
A long-serving Sandwell councillor and former town committee chairman has died.
Tributes have been paid to Labour's Malcolm Bridges, who represented Blackheath on Sandwell Council.
He was elected to the ward in 2010 but had previously represented Bristnall for many years until losing his seat to the Tories in 2008.
During his time on the council he had also served as Oldbury Town Committee chairman.
Councillor Steve Eling, deputy leader of Sandwell Council, said: "I knew Malcolm had been ill for some time but it has come as a real shock.
"He is one of those people who has been around for many years and cared deeply about his community.
"He was someone who was highly valued as a councillor and put in a huge amount of work on his patch.
"His fellow ward councillors are shocked and upset. He will be greatly missed."
Mr Bridges won his original Bristnall seat in a by-election in 1999.
