A former mayor whose vision and drive helped launch the Brighton Festival has died at the age of 83.

Lawyer Ronald Bates was among pioneers of the popular event in 1967 and became its chairman the following year, a position he held for more than 25 years.

During that time the festival grew to become the largest of its kind in the country.

He also oversaw the appointment of Gavin Henderson as its second director and had to deal with a crisis in 1988 when it almost closed because of financial problems.

Mr Bates, who served during the Second World War with the Royal Sussex Regiment and the 81st Punjabi Regiment and was demobilised with the rank of major, later became a solicitor and was a partner with Howard Johnson, the first Tory MP for Brighton Kemp Town.

He was involved in Tory politics from an early age and chaired Pavilion Young Conservatives in Brighton.

Elected to Brighton Council in 1952 for Preston Park ward, he became leader of the ruling Tory group and also chaired Kemp Town Conservative Association.

He became the youngest alderman in 1966, filling the place left by the death of Lord Cohen and the following year, aged 47, he was chosen as the youngest mayor of Brighton since the war.

The following year he was shortlisted by Tories in Pavilion constituency to stand for parliament but was beaten by Julian Amery.

He then became ineligible to remain on Brighton Council because he lived just over the border in Shirley Drive, Hove, and retired in 1971.

For many years, Mr Bates worked with mentally handicapped people and also chaired a cancer prevention clinic for women.

He was a great champion of Sussex University and said: "I believe its advent in Brighton is the most significant step since the Prince Regent came here." He was awarded a university doctorate in 1993.

One of his main interests was music and he was a former chairman of Brighton Philharmonic Society.

Councillor Carol Theobald said: "Ronald and Hazel Bates were a delightful couple who were a great Mayor and Mayoress of Brighton.

"He did so much for the Festival and the Philharmonic. He will be greatly missed."