Sir John Grugeon, a former leader of Kent County Council and one of the county's foremost politicians, has died aged 81.

Sir John was a county councillor for more than three decades and led KCC for nine years from 1973 to 1982. He was twice chairman of the authority, from 1989 to 1991 and again from 1997 to 2001.

He first became active in local politics in 1967 when, encouraged by the then Ashford MP Bill Deedes, he stood for and won what was the Ashford South seat.

He spent 30 years representing the division before switching to represent Tenterden between 1997 and 2001.

At the high point of his career, he was once described as one

the three most influential figures in local government in the country.

He became deputy leader of KCC in 1971 and two years later took on the job of leader, presiding over a period of widespread changes in both local government and the county.

During his leadership, his influence increased as he took on a series of posts on various national bodies, including becoming vice chairman of the Conservative party's national advisory committee on local government.

He was knighted for services to local government in 1980.

He had a four-year spell as chairman of Kent Police Authority between 1994 and 1998 and at the age of 71, took on another key role when he became the first chairman of KCC’s scrutiny committee after the council switched to a cabinet system.

He was also chairman of the Canterbury-based charity Brett Environmental Trust.

Born in 1928, he was educated at Epsom Grammar School and Sandhurst and was commissioned into The Buffs, the Royal East Kent regiment, in 1948, serving with the regiment's 1st Battalion in the Middle and Far East. He worked in the City as a banking executive.

He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for Kent in 1986, serving for 17 years and was a governor of Kingsnorth Primary School for 20 years.

Allan Willett CMG, the Lord Lieutenant of Kent, paid tribute to the distinguished service Sir John Grugeon had given.

"Sir John did so much for Kent and his outstanding contribution will long be remembered."

A memorial service is being planned.