ONE of Medway Council's most senior officers has announced her retirement after a 36-year career in the public sector.

Ann Windiate, the council's director of community services, will leave her post at the end of March.

A council spokesman said Ms Windiate, who joined the council in 1999, had made a "significant contribution" to improving many of the authority's services.

Chief executive Neil Davies said: "Ann's great expertise and experience will be hugely missed.

"In her time at Medway she has achieved a great deal, enabling her services and the organisation to achieve a number of accolades.

"Her considerable knowledge and commitment has helped us transform many of our services."

Full story in Monday's Medway Messenger.