A popular parish councillor from Hollingbourne who died over the weekend has been remembered by colleagues as a "larger than life character".

Alan Bennett, 63, who worked as a journalist before joining the parish council, passed away on Saturday at Maidstone Hospital after suffering a kidney failure and a heart attack.

Colleagues remembered him as someone keen to stand up for the village at council meetings, and who was active in many local organisations including All Saints’ Church and the Royal British Legion.

He was also a keen member of Kent County Cricket Club and a supporter of Maidstone United Football Club.

His wife, Anne, with whom he lived at a house in Eyhorne Street, said: "Alan was a big man with a big character - he used to call himself Marmite because you either loved him or hated him.

"He was principled and stuck to his beliefs, which people didn't always like, but he was a very loving, kind man who would do anything for anybody.

"He was a people person who wanted to do things for the benefit of his community, and had strong feelings about inequalities in society..

"If he thought something was wrong, he'd tell you - you always knew where you were with Alan."

John Cobbett, of the parish council, said: "He'd been disabled for many years with only one leg, and wasn't unknown to Maidstone Hospital, but he wasn't put off by that.

"He was a larger than life character and will be sadly missed by a lot of people."

Cllr Bennett also leaves behind a brother, Roger.

Details of the funeral have not yet been revealed.