Tributes have been paid to Ashford councillor John Kemp, who died last night.

Cllr Kemp MBE, the Conservative ward member for Kennington, passed away after a battle with cancer.

The Lower Vicarage Road resident has been a councillor at Ashford Borough Council for 21 years.

Council leader Cllr Peter Wood said: "We are very sad indeed to hear this news.

"Cllr Kemp was a highly respected member of Ashford Borough Council and he will be sorely missed. During his time as a councillor he displayed integrity, loyalty and great passion for the community. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family."

For the past decade he had served on the council's executive and was the portfolio holder for development, partnerships and personnel.

Before he moved to Ashford, Cllr Kemp has a successful career in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) and rose to the rank of major.

For full story see next week's Kentish Express