Family and friends have paid tribute to architect and former councillor Nimrod Ping - described by his brother as an "irrepressible one off" - after he died unexpectedly of a sudden illness.

Mr Ping found national fame after BBC Radio 2 DJ Terry Wogan used his memorable name as a scale by which to compare other interesting names.

His older brother Peter, from Brighton, said Mr Ping was the only person he knew to have two business cards: one which read architect, town planner and urban designer and one which read architect, town planner and trouble maker.

Mr Ping was elected to the former Brighton Borough Council in 1991 and served for eight years, during which time he was chairman of the planning committee twice and chairman of the licensing committee.

He will most recently be remembered for his part in a Government campaign to raise awareness of Hepatitis C.

Photos 3m high of Mr Ping and other people living with the condition were displayed in Chur-chill Square shopping centre last December.

He was diagnosed with the illness in the late Nineties and became seriously ill with liver failure in January 2004 but recovered.

As an architect he designed the Sainsbury's in Lewes Road, Brighton, although, as he often joked, he was not responsible for the road layout.

He was deputy convenor of the group, Heritage Over Vandalism Actually (Hova) formed in 2003 to oppose the King Alfred development.

As a councillor he was instrumental in helping night clubs get permission to open on the seafront and launched a campaign to save a seafront Punch and Judy show.

One of the city's first openly gay councillors he played an active part in Pride celebrations.

Mr Ping studied architecture at Cardiff University and was close to completing an MA in urban design at Oxford Brookes University when he died.

His older brother, Peter, said: "He was the kind of guy who would say Why have a light bulb when you can have a chandelier?'.

"He had enormous determination and lust for life.

"He would set himself targets and then give himself rewards when he achieved them. He had booked a trip to Australia to reward himself for completing his MA.

"His enthusiasm for life was wonderful. He will be sorely missed."

Simon Burgess, leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, said: "At times council business can be rather dry and Nimrod injected a bit of humour and a fresh perspective."

Nimrod Ping died of a sudden digestive illness, unconnected to hepatitis C, on July 3.