TRIBUTES have been paid to one of Bolton's most respected racial equality campaigners, who has died, aged 61.

Anne Gough had been a committee member of Bolton Racial Equality Council (BREC) since 1976 and was also founding chairman of the Bolton Racial Harassment Initiative.

Mrs Gough died at Royal Bolton Hospital last week, after a battle against breast cancer.

Zahida Hussain, BREC director, said: "Anne was a true champion of diversity and equality, in particular race equality.

"Anne understood about people's differences and their cultures. With this knowledge she was fantastic at bringing people together to celebrate their rich histories and cultures."

In 2005, Mrs Gough was honoured at the Bolton Diversity Awards for her campaigning against all forms of discrimination.

Bipin Patel, editor of Apna Online, a community multi-racial website and award sponsor, said: "Anne was a really remarkable woman who cast an enormous presence wherever she went. She will be missed by many from all sections of the community."

Mrs Gough had already fought off breast cancer once, having been diagnosed in 1997, and went on to raise funds for the Christie Hospital in Manchester, where she was treated.

She was an active member of the Labour Party and provided a home to Bolton West MP Ruth Kelly when she arrived in the town.

Ms Kelly said: "Anne was a very dear friend and one of the kindest people I have ever met.

"Her generosity of spirit, her compassion and her commitment to helping others touched everyone. She will be greatly missed, but remembered with joy."

Mrs Gough, who moved to Bolton in 1972 and lived in Heaton, set up a community playgroup in Harwood and began teaching English to immigrant factory workers. She retired as a teacher at Bolton Community College last year to take on a staff roll within BREC.

Mrs Gough leaves a husband Graham, aged 60, and daughter Alison, aged 34.

Her funeral will take place at Bolton Parish Church on Friday at 1pm, followed by a cremation at Overdale's West Chapel at 2.30pm. Shaw's funeral directors are accepting donations to Cancer Research UK and the Christie Hospital.