Friends have paid tribute to Queens Park councillor Muhammad Khan who died on Wednesday night, (November 26).

Coun Khan, 75, of Ford End Road, had suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure for several years and was being taken to Bedford Hospital South Wing by ambulance when he passed away.

He came to Bedford around 40 years ago and was one of the founders of the Jamia Masjid Gulshani Baghdad Mosque in Westbourne Road, where he was chairman for 19 years.

Coun Mohammad Yasin (Lab, Queens Park) said: "He was a great friend to me and like a father figure for everybody.

"He was one of the first graduates in Queens Park who could help people coming into the area with their English. He could help people when they came to this country to fill in forms for the likes of social security.

"I remember seeing the crowds outside his house. Such a brilliant person, such a great loss."

Coun Khan sat on Bedford Borough Council representing Queens Park for 17 years.

Coun Yasin said: "He was a very, very kind person and will be greatly missed in Queens Park."

Coun Khan's funeral will be held at 1.30pm today (Thursday, November 27), at the mosque in Westbourne Road.