TRIBUTES have been paid to a St Ann's vicar who has died just a year after retiring.

The Rev James Neill died, aged 68, at the Queen's Medical Centre on Saturday, after a short illness.

Known to many as Reverend Jim, he was devoted to St Ann's and chose to stay there after retiring from his position at St Ann with Emmanuel Church in December 2008.

He was the church's longest-serving vicar.

Cynthia James, chairwoman of the Gains Tenants' and Residents' Association in St Ann's, said: "The community will be shocked at him passing. Everybody knew Jim.

"He was very active in the community, not just as a vicar but also as a school governor. He was a friend of the community."

Among those to pay tribute to him is his successor at St Ann with Emmanuel Church, the Rev Karen Rooms.

She said: "Jim was a well-loved pastor who served the people of St Ann's for many years.

"People have told me he was there for them at all times of the day or night; in times of joy, and times of great sadness, offering his support and help.

"It is a privilege for me to build on his legacy of faithful ministry here in St Ann's."

On his retirement, after 32 years in St Ann's, Jim said he stayed there for so long because of the people.

He said at the time: "I've lived in places like Cambridge, Kent, the Lake District, Yorkshire, but there's no place like St Ann's, Nottingham."