A WELL-known Worcestershire councillor has died following a long battle against cancer.

Mike Oborski, a Liberal councillor on the county council and Wyre Forest district council, where he served alongside his wife Fran, died at the weekend.

The 60-year old had been involved in local politics for 30 years and in December he told the Worcester News it was "business as usual" despite being diagnosed with terminal lung and liver cancer.

It was a blow, coming just six months after he had been given the allclear from colon cancer after surgery in 2005.

But Coun Oborski, who lived in Kidderminster and was a former Mayor of the town, vowed to carry on his work in the community as before.

At the time he told us: "I don't feel greatly depressed or that I need to blame anyone because it is something that just happens. There are worse disasters and young people dying all over the world that haven't had the the life chances that I've had. You either curl up or you carry on as normal."

Coun Oborski, a teacher for 26 years and Consul of the Republic of Poland for the West Midlands, was receiving treatment at the Priory private hospital in Birmingham, including a drug called Avastin.

It angered him that the drug was not currently available on the NHS and he had been campaigning for it to be prescribed to all patients when he died.

Yesterday colleagues paid tribute to "a giant of a man" who had dedicated his life to helping people.

Fellow district councillor Coun Siriol Hayward said: "I was friends with Mike from the 1970s and his death will leave a big hole in my heart.

"He had an amazing political brain and could see things no-one else could - he really did make politics fun on the council.

"He was a powerful man, but was also a tremendous diplomat who could be very kind. He was a giant of a man and his death saddens us all."

Coun Tom Wells, Liberal Democrat leader at County Hall, said: "Mike was a larger than life politician in every respect. He was totally committed to the electorate and made an immense contribution to the county council over many years.

"He will be sorely missed and our thoughts go out to his wife."

County council leader Coun George Lord said: "Mike had always been a very keen advocate of political immigration in this country, and he gave his life to that."

Mr Oborski served as leader of Wyre Forest district council for two years, and served three terms in office as chairman.

At various times he had held most of the senior committee chairmanships on the council since joining in 1973.