ONE of North Yorkshire's longest-serving MPs has died at the age of 77.

Tributes poured in today for Conservative Michael Alison, hailed as a "real gentleman", who served the Selby district for a record 33 years.

He fought long and hard for the new Selby bypass before finally standing down from parliament before the 1997 general election.

Inspired by his strong Christian faith, he was known as the "voice of the Church of England" in the House of Commons.

He entered Parliament as MP for Barkston Ash - which then included the Selby district -after the 1964 General Election.

The seat was abolished following boundary changes in 1983, after which he represented the Selby constituency.

Mr Alison served under two Tory leaders, Edward Heath and Margaret Thatcher, and was described by one political commentator as "like a clergyman who has stumbled into a brothel".

Alex McKenzie, a former chairman of the Selby branch of the Conservative Association, said today: "Michael was a very talented man who worked a lot harder than he was given credit for.

"He worked tremendously hard behind the scenes and held regular surgeries.

"He was highly regarded in Westminster and by Mrs Thatcher."

Mr Alison became Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office in 1979, during the darkest days of the troubles.

Selby MP John Grogan said: "Mr Alison was a gentleman. The general election campaigns in Selby in 1987 and 1992, which we contested together, were civilised affairs, very much in keeping with his character.

"He was conservative and orthodox in both his political and religious views."

Mr Alison leaves his wife, Sylvia, whom he married in 1958, two sons and a daughter.

Updated: 10:43 Tuesday, June 01, 2004