AN UNSUNG environmental hero who died last year has had a new Environment Agency building named after him.

Geoff Mance, director of water management with the Agency, died after a long illness at the age of 53 in November last year.

In his memory, a new purpose-built building at Arthur Drive, Hoo Farm, Kidderminster, has been named Mance House and will be opened by Agency chairman Sir John Harman.

A plaque will also be unveiled by his widow Elizabeth at a dedication ceremony today.

The new building will provide a base for over 50 staff dealing with a wide range of environmental issues from Worcester to the Black Country.

Specialist staff will deal with environmental matters such as fisheries protection and the licensing of waste management sites.

Mance House will also store the demountable flood defences which are used in Bewdley.

London-born Dr Mance began his career in the water industry in 1984 when he joined Severn Trent Water Authority.

He became the first Director of Water Management with the Environment Agency in 1996.

"Champion of the environment conjures up images of larger than life figures, caped crusaders," said Agency chief executive Barbara Young.

"Geoff Mance, quietly, skilfully and persistently, achieved major environmental progress, yet few members of the public knew it was he who had made the difference.

"Geoff's last great campaign was to achieve adequate levels of funding for the protection of the communities at risk from flooding."