A memorial service will be held for a Deal councillor whose career in local politics spanned four decades.

Members of the public are invited to pay their respects to Cllr Wayne Elliott at St George’s Church in Deal High Street at 5.30pm on Friday, June 15.

The service, which will be led by the Rev Chris Spencer, has been organised by members of the community including Kerry Rubins, Chrissi Dunn and Pat Poole.

It will include tributes from those who knew him, readings and hymns.

Members of Deal Town Council have been invited to attend in their civic robes. MP Charlie Elphicke has also been invited to attend.

Miss Rubins said: “Wayne touched the hearts of so many people in the community over the last 40 years, from the very young to the very old. He would help anybody.

“Members of the community are coming together to recognise this and want to give him a memorable send off.

“We have spoken to his family and we have their blessing and we’re very grateful to St George’s for gifting use of the church.

“The church holds hundreds of people so we would love as many people as possible to join us in celebrating Wayne’s life.”

Cllr Elliott died peacefully at Ami Court nursing home on Sunday, April 29, aged 74, seven weeks after suffering a stroke. A private funeral for family and close friends only was held at Barham Crematorium on Tuesday, May 15.

The Conservative supporter had been in local government since 1979, having in the past been a member of Dover District Council.

He was the town council’s North Deal ward member since 2003 and a former Deal mayor, serving in 1982-83, and deputy mayor in 2015-16.

He was presented with a Locality public sector hero award at the House of Lords in 2015.

He was then one of just 17 councillors in the country to get the accolade for providing exemplary support, encouragement, advice and guidance to local community organisations.

He also supported Deal Icebreakers and Heartstart.