Members of the community who are fundraising for a memorial bench for a veteran councillor are asking people to vote where it should be placed.

Cllr Wayne Elliott, who helped many groups and individuals during his four decades in local government, is set to be remembered with a special seating place.

But those behind the idea are unsure where it would be best situated and are asking the people of Deal to decide in a poll.

The former mayor passed away peacefully at Ami Court nursing home on Sunday, seven weeks after suffering a stroke.

Within three days, those who knew him set about sharing ideas of ways in which he should be remembered. A community Facebook page called The Legacy of Wayne Elliott, Deal Kent has also been set up for people to share memories and photographs.

Friend Chrissi Dunn, who says she had the honour of caring for Cllr Elliott in his last days at Ami Court, said: "An idea has come up for the community to pay tribute to Wayne.

"It is proposed that all the charities and people he supported unite and fundraise for a memorial bench.

"Without Wayne, people have said they will not know where to go.

"He was always people's first port of call when they needed help and he always had the answers.

"A bench will be somewhere people can sit, reflect and remember him."

The two proposed sites are Sandown Castle and Deal Pier.

Cllr Elliott was part of the first dig at Sandown Castle which saw the area tranformed into a community garden. Having lived in Canute Road and Golf Road, the area also represents his North end roots. He was also a North Deal ward member.

Cllr Elliott was also involved in maintaining the floral displays and railings at the Pier apron and supported the district council's £500,000 renovation plans for the important landmark.

He was a volunteer for Deal Icebreakers, who organise the annual Boxing Day Dip which takes place next to the pier and also helped in the redesign of South Street, close by.

The option of having two benches has not been ruled out, although each bench is set to cost about £1,500 each meaning £3,000 would need to be donated to make it possible.

Kerry Rubins, who will be setting up a Go Fund Me page where people will soon be able to donate, said: "Wayne always supported my Breast Cancer Now sponsored walks and I'd often get a knock on the door late in the evening from Wayne. He'd come in for a coffee and share his ideas for a project.

"He was a massive character that we're going to miss. Through this memorial bench we will make him proud and make sure his legacy lives on."

Patricia Poole, who is blind, is also behind the idea after Cllr Elliott supported her in a number of endeavours.

She said: "Wayne was so proactive. People only know half of what he did."

Jossie Benson, who gave a donation, said: "He was wonderful. He was like everyone's dad."

Cllr Elliott was born to parents George and Audrey Elliott, who was also a town councillor.

He was educated in Deal and after a short stint working on the railways, he went into the building and developing trade.

He joined the local government scene in 1979, and was also a member of Dover District Council.

He was the town council's North Deal ward member and a former Deal mayor, serving in 1982-83, and deputy mayor in 2015-16.

He was presented with a Locality public sector hero award at the House of Lords in 2015.

He leaves his wife Marion and two children.