A former council leader is stepping down from her post as councillor after more than two decades of work.

Fran Wilson has served as a Liberal Democrat councillor on Maidstone Borough Council for 24 years, twice becoming leader of the council.

The 76-year-old was leader briefly from 2007 to 2008 and was chosen for the role once again in 2015.

Last May Cllr Wilson called time on her leadership, saying she intended to see out the rest of her term as councillor.

With borough council elections due on May 2, the High Street ward councillor has announced she does not intend to stand for another term.

Cllr Wilson said: "It seems to me to be the right time. I have a 77th birthday coming up and my husband is going to be 83 this year.

"He has been a fabulous support to me, he's often joked that he's been my chauffeur.

"We're not on the upward swing of life and now I want to invest more of my time with him and those that I love."

The decision brings an end to a political career that started with Cllr topping by-election polls in 1995.

She led the Liberal Democrat party in Maidstone from 2006 to 2018.