THE Lord Lieutenant of Kent is holding a civic service - the first of its kind - in Canterbury Cathedral on April 29.

The 11am service will mark the end of the mayoral year and Mayors, council chairmen and representatives of their charities have been invited, together with council leaders, chief executives and representatives from all the county’s town and parish councils.

Deputy Lieutenants from across Kent will also attend.

The aim is to celebrate the contribution to Kent life made by civic heads and council representatives during the year – and to give thanks for the work of the charities in the community.

Lord Lieutenant Allan Willett said: "The Lieutenancy’s non-political, non-sectarian, role means that, perhaps uniquely, it is able to bring organisations and people together – no matter what their personal allegiances.

"The dedicated and self-less service of all those attending is sometimes undervalued or ignored, and this is the Lieutenancy’s way of thanking them, on behalf of the Queen, and celebrating all that they do for the people of Kent."