POLITICIANS across Bolton have paid tribute to a Labour campaigner who died suddenly aged 41.

Ross McCawley passed away early on Thursday morning after a suspected heart attack. He leaves his wife, Sharon.

A lifelong Labour supporter, for the past four years Mr McCawley worked for Bolton South East MP Yasmin Qureshi as her constituency adviser.

Before then he worked for David Crausby, MP for Bolton North East, for three years.

Ms Qureshi said she was very shocked by his sudden passing.

She added: “Ross was a great campaigner but also a really good friend.

“He would come to my house every Friday at 9am and we would be together all day — talking to constituents, collecting signatures and organising campaigns.

“Ross was very politically clued up and I’m quite happy to admit he gave me invaluable advice on not just Bolton issues, but also national and international issues — he was very well read. He loved his wife very much and his niece. It’s just a shock. We will miss him enormously.”

Mr Crausby added: “It’s a terrible shock when someone so young should go. I just feel for his family.”

Originally from Bolton, Mr McCawley and his wife had recently bought a house in Heywood.

Cllr Christopher Peacock, who worked alongside him for Ms Qureshi, added that Bolton staff were still coming to terms with his death.

He said: “It’s going to be a very difficult time for us. He was such an important part of our team and he was not just a colleague, he was a friend.”

Kearsley councillor Liam Irving said: “It’s very sad. I’ve lost a close friend and someone I could always share a laugh with.

“Ross was a really nice bloke. We always had a good laugh and we could see the comical side of what was happening.”

Details of the funeral have yet to be announced.