Tributes: Mayor Milton McKenzie with his wife Jemma outside Dagenham Civic Centre

People travelled from as far afield as Germany to pay their respects to a former mayor of Barking and Dagenham.

Former councillor Len Collins brought the east London borough and the German university town of Witten together during his time on the council, which spanned almost four decades.

The father-of-one signed the deeds that officially linked the two areas in 1979 and later helped found the Barking and Dagenham Witten Club in 1994.

On Thursday, his funeral cortege passed Dagenham Civic Centre in Wood Lane before making its way to Eastbrookend Cemetery in Dagenham Road.

About 150 people, including visitors from Witten, attended the ceremony.

Tony Richards, 75, of Barking and Dagenham Witten Club, said: “He was one of the dearest people I’ve ever known. He really was a wonderful man.

“He did tremendous work on the council – 39 years. He was particularly anxious to develop relations with Witten and pleased to have signed the deeds.”

Len lived in Greenwood Avenue, Dagenham, until two years ago, then moved to Southend where he died following a stroke on Sunday April 22, aged 82.

He leaves a wife, Hazel, their daughter, Jackie, and a granddaughter and great-granddaughter.