TRIBUTES have been paid from around Worcestershire to former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy today, who has died aged 55.

Leading party figures in the county have spoken of their shock at the sudden passing of Mr Kennedy, who turned the party into its biggest ever force in parliament and famously opposed the 2003 Iraq war.

Mr Kennedy, who led his party from 1999 to 2006, lost his seat last month in Scotland but was in charge when it had 62 MPs in 2005.

Paul Griffiths, former chairman of Worcester Liberal Democrats, said: "It's often said as a criticism of politicians that they've spent all their life in politics, well he's an example of someone who's done just that but breaks the rule in that he was really liked.

"He wasn't disconnected from the voters, it was quite the contrary - I voted for him to succeed Paddy Ashdown and he took us to our greatest electoral success.

"I admired him for his liberalism and his principles, particularly on the Iraq war."

Veteran Liberal Democrat Councillor Liz Tucker said: "He was a huge figure - the delightful thing about Charles Kennedy was the way he was his own person.

"He had his own way of talking that included all people, he said things in a simple way, he was very much like a much nicer version of Boris Johnson.

"I just couldn't believe it when I heard he'd died, it's so very sad for his family and us all."

Worcester MP Robin Walker, a Conservative, said: "When I was growing up he was certainly a very powerful figure on the political scene.

"It's a really sad loss at such a young age, it's quite shocking he's passed away in his mid-50s.

"He was well-liked and will be well remembered, it's very sad to have lost him."

Councillor Charles Tucker, a Lib Dem member at Wychavon District Council, said it was "a great shock" to hear about the death.

"He was in the very best traditions of the party, he was committed to social reform through and through and was very principled," he said.

"He was a wonderful human being and will be a great loss to the party - and I know he lost his seat, but the constituency too."

Mr Kennedy, who represented Ross, Skye and Lochaber, resigned as party leader in 2006 after revealing he had been receiving treatment for a long-standing alcohol problem.

No cause of death has been given but police said it was not suspicious.

Mr Kennedy's family said in a statement: "We are obviously devastated at the loss. "Charles was a fine man, a talented politician and a loving father to his young son."

Ex-PM Tony Blair said the death was "an absolute tragedy" while David Cameron tweeted that he was "deeply saddened".

Nick Clegg, who will step down as Lib Dem leader next month, said that on a good day Mr Kennedy had "more political talent in his little finger than the rest of us put together".

"Charles devoted his life to public service, yet he had an unusual gift for speaking about politics with humour and humility which touched people well beyond the world of politics," he said.

"He was one of the most gentle and unflappable politicians I have ever known, yet he was immensely courageous too not least when he spoke for the country against the invasion of Iraq."