FORMER City of York Council leader Rod Hills died of natural causes, police have confirmed.

West Yorkshire Police said a post-mortem examination was completed yesterday. There will be no inquest into the 57-year-old's death.

The news came as residents of Clifton paid touching tributes to the councillor who served them for more than 20 years, but who had been dogged by scandal over his private life.

A series of charges were brought against Mr Hills, including blackmail, soliciting women for prostitution and perverting the course of justice. But he was cleared of all offences with the exception of a charge of careless driving.

As well as serving Clifton, Mr Hills had been council leader for 18 years, and was awarded a CBE in 1999 for services to local government.

Maudhu Joshi, who has lived in Spalding Avenue for 21 years, said Mr Hills was "an excellent leader." She said: "I was shocked when I heard he had died. I think he was the best councillor, he had done such good things for the council and the city of York. I met him a few times, he was very polite, a nice person to talk to."

Grandmother-of-two Janet Fisher, of Burton Green, said: "His death is tragic news. He did a lot of good, he tried hard for people and worked for the people."

Moira Wright, a mother-of-two who has lived in Peter Hill Drive for 13 years, said: "Maybe more could have been done but the council has been trying hard to tidy Clifton up. It is sad whenever someone dies at that age, when they haven't seen their life out."

Keith Scaife, who has lived in Clifton all his life, said: "It is very sad and it is mysterious. He would help anybody, he stood up for peoples' rights."

Mr Scaife's wife, Margaret, a Clifton resident for 32 years, said: "It is shocking news. He was a good councillor."

A mother-of-five and grandmother of 16, who asked not to be named, said Mr Hills had been the victim of a "witch-hunt."

She said: "He did a lot for the community. He went through a lot and plenty of what they were saying was a load of rubbish."

Mr Hills died on Monday in a flat in Chapeltown, Leeds.

Pensioner Wilfred Dixon told the Evening Press that he had taken Mr Hills in after he called at his flat, saying he felt he could not drive home.

Mr Dixon made up a bed for Mr Hills, and less than four hours later found he had died.

Updated: 11:10 Thursday, July 31, 2003