Former mayor Francois Dupr, a controversial Tory member of the old Hove Council, has died at the age of 70.

He represented South Portslade for eight years and became mayor in 1990.

His Swiss-born wife Huguette was also a councillor in the same ward. The couple married in 1966 and had two children.

During his year of office, the council spent £40,000 on a new mayoral limousine. One reason was so the mayoress would not crumple her dresses.

Mr Dupr caused controversy wherever he went.

He said Hove was in danger of being overrun by an invasion of geriatrics in bath chairs.

He also alleged the YMCA was providing hostels which were becoming doss houses for dropouts.

Also, Mr Dupr claimed money spent to combat Aids was entirely wasted on some people.

At one time Liberals claimed Mr Dupr had brought the whole council into disrepute by his words and actions.

They put forward a motion but it was defeated and Mr Dupr claimed it had been politically motivated.

Mr Dupr was also a freemason and claimed the movement was a force for good, raising millions of pounds for charity.

A sales executive, Mr Dupr was born in London but spent most of his life in the Brighton and Hove area.

The funeral service will be held at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Norton Road on Monday at 11am.