LONG-SERVING Labour councillor Brian Hunter, a former RAF pilot, a cafe owner and a face known all over Herne Bay, has died aged 74.

Mr Hunter was West Bay councillor for many years as well as Sheriff of Canterbury in 2002. He lived alone in William Street where he had lived for much of his life and where he owned the nearby Hot Cafe.

He died early on Monday morning at Kent and Canterbury Hospital from an illness he had been fighting some six weeks. He had already beaten cancer a few years ago.

Mr Hunter had been an RAF pilot in his early days, but he left for his family business of catering. He joined the Labour Party as a young man and had stood as branch and regional secretary for 27 years.

He lost his seat as West Bay councillor in the local elections of 2003.