A much-loved and respected councillor has died after a short battle with a terminal illness.

Cllr Jane Cribbon was 66 when she passed away at the Ellenor Hospice in Northfleet.

Cllr Cribbon (Lab) was a member of Gravesham Borough Council for Central Ward and then Pelham Ward since 1999 and also won Gravesend East division on Kent County Council in 2013 for her second term on that council.

She was married to Cllr Lee Croxton and the couple lived in Hillside Terrace, Gravesend.

Tributes were paid today from across the council.

Labour group leader Cllr John Burden said: “Jane’s passionate involvement in every aspect of council work and all the other causes she championed will be sorely missed.

"She was a kind and caring person who committed herself to serving all her constituents, all the time. Our thoughts are with Lee, her family and all her many friends at this sad time.”

Council leader Cllr John Cubitt said: “Jane was a formidable political opponent but a caring and thoughtful colleague. She leaves a void at the council and I send my deepest condolences to her family.”

Cllr Cribbon was a member of the planning committee at Gravesham, which she also chaired.

She was a past member of the Environmental Health committee and was also a board member and trustee of North West Kent Age UK.

At KCC she was a member of the Children’s Social Care and Health committee, the Corporate Parenting Panel and was an county appointee to Kent & Medway Fire & Rescue Authority.

The family has asked for privacy. Funeral arrangements will be announced as soon as possible.