HUNDREDS across the region have expressed their "upmost sadness" over the passing of the long-serving former Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Dame Ingrid Roscoe.

Dame Roscoe died suddenly on Sunday with her successor Ed Anderson describing her 14 year term in the role as one of "love, energy and devotion".

Before she became the North of England’s first woman Lord-Lieutenant, she was made a Deputy Lieutenant in 1994 and became Vice Lord-Lieutenant in 1999.

Mrs Roscoe, who was also a notable art historian, became the Lord-Lieutenant in 2004 and honoured with a Damehood as part of the 2017 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Ed Anderson, who took over the role in 2018, paid tribute by saying: "It is with the utmost sadness that I have to report that my predecessor, Dame Ingrid Roscoe, passed away yesterday. She served West Yorkshire as its Lord-Lieutenant with love, energy and devotion over 14 years. She will be very sadly missed by many many people across the County."

Dame Roscoe welcomed many high profile figures and royals to Bradford district including her majesty the Queen on her visit to the city in 2007.

The then-Lord Lieutenant also led Prince Edward, HRH the Duke of Kent, on a tour round Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.

She was a "keen supporter" of the emergency services and Yorkshire army regiments, having presented at the annual medal and certificate ceremony for the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) and handed out the Queens Award.

Dave Walton, deputy chief fire officer at WYFRS, said: "I met Dame Ingrid on a number of occasions and she was such a keen supporter of @WYFRS and everything that we did. Both at formal and more social occasions she always had time for everyone. Sincere condolences to her family and friends."

While a spokesperson for Yorkshire Regiment said: "Dame Ingrid was a good friend and a staunch supporter of the Regiment."

Dame Roscoe combined her love for art history with a number of voluntary roles at local insitutions such as the National Mining Museum and Yorkshire Historic Churches. She was also a trustee of York Minster, President of the Leeds Philharmonic Society, President of the Royal British Legion in West Yorkshire, President of the Calderdale Community Foundation, Commander of the Order of St. John and member of the Governing Council of the University of Huddersfield. She was a patron of the Prince’s Trust for West Yorkshire, Yorkshire Archaeological Society and more.