The former Mayor of Coleraine, William King, has died suddenly.
Mr King, a UUP councillor, had served on both the Causeway Coast and Glens council and the former Coleraine Borough Council.
His party, in a statement, spoke of their shock and sadness following his sudden passing.
Read more: Derry and Strabane to have no unionist Mayor for first time in decades
UUP group leader on the Causeway council, Darryl Wilson, said: "My Ulster Unionist colleagues and I were shocked and deeply saddened by the sudden passing of William King.
"William was a well-known and respected public representative for many year's, including his time on Coleraine Borough Council where he served for many years (representing Bann DEA), this time included a spell as Mayor of Coleraine, and William was also one of the inaugural Cllrs on Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council."
He continued: "William was a hard working man, a great Councillor, an even better man for the ploughing but above all this a dedicated family man.
"Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to Daphne, his daughters and all impacted by this sad, sad news."
Mr Wilson also thanked the current Mayor of the Causeway Coast and Glens and the "group leads from right across the political spectrum for paying their respects and offering glowing tributes".
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