Tributes have been paid to the dedication and public-spiritedness of a police and crime commissioner who has died suddenly.
Colleagues and friends of Labour's Bob Jones, including shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, spoke of their shock and sadness at his death aged 59.
Mr Jones, who served as a councillor in his home city of Wolverhampton for more than 30 years, was elected as the first police and crime commissioner for the West Midlands in November 2012.
In a statement offering her sympathies to Mr Jones' family, Ms Cooper said: “This is very sad news and comes as a terrible shock to us all.
“Bob was a very kind and intelligent man who cared deeply about the communities he represented. He served with great distinction as police and crime commissioner for the West Midlands, and before that leading West Midlands Police Authority, always championing neighbourhood policing and victims' rights.
“I have benefited from his advice and wisdom over the years and he was rightly awarded a CBE last year.”
Roger Lawrence, the leader of Wolverhampton City Council, described Mr Jones as a great public servant who had represented the city as a committed ward councillor for over 30 years.
