Madron Seligman, one of the most colourful figures in Sussex politics in the Eighties and early Nineties, has died aged 83.

Mr Seligman was the Conservative Euro MP for West Sussex from 1979 to 1994.

He won a place in the Guinness Book of Records when he was first elected with a majority of 95,484, the largest ever recorded in Europe.

Despite being a Euro MP he was always ready to take on local issues, such as the problems facing local post offices and taxi queues at Gatwick airport.

He entered politics at the relatively late age of 60 after a successful career in industry.

He was marketing director of Crawley's APV Engineering, which had been founded by his father.

He joined the engineering and plant manufacturing company in 1947.

Mr Seligman was also an entertaining public speaker and a close friend of former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath whom he met while studying at Balliol College, Oxford.

For much of his life Mr Seligman lived with his family at Michelpage House, Nuthurst, near Horsham.

During the Second World War, Mr Seligman served with the 6th Armoured Divisional Signals in North Africa and Italy and fought at Monte Cassino.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy-Joan, and their three sons and daughter.