DAWLISH town and district councillor Mike James died after a fall, it was revealed today.

He fell as he went to help another person who had collapsed in the street and subsequently died at the age of 89.

Details emerged as tributes were paid to the councillor who served on two of the county’s major local authorities.

He was a leading councillor in Torbay before moving to Dawlish and serving on the town council there.

He was elected to Teignbridge Council in 2023, and represented the Dawlish South West ward as a Liberal Democrat.

He also volunteered as a governor for Torbay and South Devon NHS.

Teignbridge Council chairman (Ind, Haytor) said: ‘Mike will be remembered as a dedicated councillor who was committed to helping his community.

‘Our thoughts and condolences are with Mike’s family, friends, colleagues and all who knew him.’

Members of the council stood for a minute’s silence at the beginning of their executive meeting, after which an emotional Cllr Gary Taylor (Lib Dem, Kenton and Starcross) described Cllr James as a ‘very dear colleague’.

He had played at Cardiff City football club in his younger days, he said, and was a football coach when he moved to Devon.

He had been a housing association chairman and co-founder of a charity for children with special needs.

‘He always had a light in his eye,’ said Cllr Taylor.