Tributes have been paid to one of Helston's most colourful characters, who died in hospital on Saturday, aged 78.

Almost everyone in Helston knew Frank Houghton - whether through the many local organisations he was involved with, his constant presence at town council meetings, or simply as the dapperly-dressed figure playing his barrel organ to raise funds for charity.

Town mayor Nick Martin, who has known Mr Houghton for many years and will be attending his funeral, said Helston would be a poorer place without him.

"Meeting Frank made a dull day bright," he said. "He was a tenacious character and a man of his word. He wasn't afraid to say what he thought, but if he was wrong he would say so.

"I don't think people realise just how much he did for the town. He had Helston at heart in everything he did."

Mr Houghton, who lived in Grange Road, was involved with numerous local charities and organisations.

As chairman of Helston Age Concern, he worked tirelessly on the campaign to secure a new minibus for the group. He was also a leading light in the town's Darby and Joan Club, a keen CB radio enthusiast and a member, and former standard bearer, of the Helston Old Cornwall Society.

One of the founder members of the Friends of Helston Folk Museum, he was a great ambassador for the museum, which he visited every day for some 20 years.

Close friend John Mitchell, who regularly sat alongside Mr Houghton in the town council chamber, said: "He was such a character. There wasn't really anyone else like him in Helston, or the rest of Cornwall! He will be sadly missed."

Born in Illogan, Mr Houghton worked at East Pool Mine before becoming the "turncock" at RNAS Culdrose - the man responsible for locating and turning off all the stopcocks at the base in an emergency.

He worked at the station for many years, living at Illogan Highway and then Lezerea, before eventually moving into Helston.

His wife, Phyllis May, known to her friends as Margaret, died 21 years ago, and Mr Houghton also outlived three of the couple's five children.

His surviving son, David, who lives at Four Lanes, said: "Everybody seemed to know him. He did a lot for other people but he would never brag about anything he had done. He wasn't that kind of person.

"He was not afraid to say what he had to say, and a lot of it was genuine stuff, worth listening to."

There is expected to be a large turnout for Mr Houghton's funeral, which takes place at 2.30pm today, at Helston Methodist Church, followed by interment at Crelly Cemetery.