ALLAN Burgess's family have praised the decision to rename an historic house in his honour.

Cllr Burgess represented Wanstead ward for nearly 20 years before his death from cancer last April.

The council reacted to public appeals for a permanent memorial to the popular politician by naming the newly renovated Corner House, in Grove Park after him.

His daughter, Fiona Moulson, attended the dedication ceremony last Wednesday, alongside her sister Trudi, stepmother Fay and nearly 50 other friends and former colleagues.

She said: "He would have been pleased but slightly surprised by this gesture.

"He loved Wanstead and wanted to protect the good things about it.

"He lived here since the early 1960s and what happened here was very important to him.

"This is a nice gesture."