The Moray Council regrets to have to announce the death of Councillor Alastair Bisset at the age of 66. Councillor Bisset had been in hospital in Edinburgh since suffering a heart attack at the headquarters of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities in the city last Friday. In a tribute, council convener Councillor George McIntyre said: “I am deeply saddened at the news of Alastair’s death. “In his passing Moray has lost a great ambassador, Elgin has lost its greatest champion and we in Moray Council have lost an esteemed and trusted colleague.

“Alastair made an enormous contribution to local government during his time as a councillor and depute convener and his input will be sorely missed.

“I, my colleagues and council staff send our deepest condolences to Alastair’s widow, Marguerite, and his two sons, Jonathan and Alastair junior.”

Flags were flown at half-mast over council headquarters in Elgin as a mark of respect.

Councillor Bisset, a former journalist, was elected to the former Elgin Central West ward in 1999.

Earlier this year he was re-elected as one of three councillors for the new Elgin City South ward.

As well as serving as depute convener, Councillor Bisset was joint chairman of the council’s policy committee and also chaired Moray Licensing Board.