TRIBUTE has been paid to a Keighley Labour Party stalwart who has clocked up 75 years' membership of the movement.

John Prestage joined the party's League of Youth, in his home town of Rugby, in 1948.

After moving to Keighley 13 years later, he worked as a Labour organiser.

Since then he has served in a variety of roles, from a councillor on the old West Yorkshire County Council in the 1980s and more recently Bradford Council, to branch chair.

He has also remained active within the Co-operative Party.

A celebratory event was attended by guests including former Bradford North MP Terry Rooney, Leeds North East MP Fabian Hamilton and ex-Lord Mayor of Bradford, Mohammed Ajeeb.

Mr Prestage was presented with a framed certificate and various gifts.

Also present was John Grogan, Labour’s Keighley parliamentary candidate, who said: "John has helped in no less than 16 general elections since he arrived in Keighley. Yorkshireman Harold Wilson was the Labour leader in the first of those in 1964, so it was very appropriate that one of the gifts John received was the latest biography of one of our most underrated of Prime Ministers."

Mr Prestage thanked everyone who attended the event.