Former Ferndown mayor and estate agent, Peter Roberts, has died at the age of 84.

Born in Burton-on-Trent in 1933, Peter Michael Roberts moved to Ferndown in the early 1960s. He opened his first estate agency business in Ferndown in 1977 called Roberts estate agents and over the years the business expanded with branches opening in West Moors, Ringwood, Canford Heath, Charminster, Winton, Kinson and West Parley.

In 1984 he won an appeal against Wimborne District Council to open a new estate agency in New Road, West Parley.

In 1985 he sold the whole of the estate agency business but the name still remains under new management at the Charminster office.

Peter was elected first vice-chairman, then chairman of Ferndown Town Council and also took up the role as Ferndown's first mayor in the late 1970s until 1981. His wife Doreen was the Mayoress. They opened many charity events in the Ferndown area.

"He was very much involved on the council on youth club issues and in particular he was at the centre of the planning of Ferndown centre as well as the Ferndown bypass which was given planning permission in the early 1980s,"said his son Simon Roberts.

When he was mayor he attended Ferndown Youth Club during National Youth Club week in 1980 and gave the youth club his support with a letter of greetings and good wishes to present to the Duke of Gloucester, president of the National Association of Boys' Club.

He also gave his support for day care facilities in the Penny's Hill area of Ferndown and had his picture taken for the Ferndown Journal learning to knit with a group of ladies.

As Ferndown was rapidly expanding and being developed he was one of 250 protestors in 1983 fighting against a Tesco £5 million commercial and community development in the town.

Doreen and Peter had two sons, Anthony and Simon. Doreen sadly passed away in April this year.

Peter died on November 23 and his funeral was held at St Anthony's Roman Catholic Church, Ferndown, on December 8, followed by an interment at West Moors Cemetery.