Tributes have been paid to Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council leader Mark Worrall, who died today. He was 58.

Cllr Worrall had been admitted to hospital last week, but passed away early this morning.

David Hughes, chief executive of Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, said: "Cllr Mark Worrall's death has come as a huge shock to us all, and our first thoughts must be for his family and friends, in particular his three children and sister.

"Cllr Worrall was held in great esteem and he promoted a culture within the council of service to the community.

"It was undoubtedly as a result of his great skill and personal qualities that the council was judged by the Audit Commission to be the best in the country."

Deputy council leader Cllr Owen Baldock said: "Not only will Mark be missed by his Conservative colleagues but he was also a close friend and colleague to all members of the council irrespective of their political allegiances.

"Mark was truly one of those remarkable persons who always put the interests of the residents of the borough at the forefront of everything he sought to do. He will be an enormous loss to not only the council but the wider community."

Cllr Worrall, who represented West Malling and Leybourne, was first elected to the council in May 1982.

He was elected leader of the Conservative group in 1985 and remained leader until his death.

Cllr Worral was Leader of the council from 1985 to 1995 and again from 2003 to his death. In 2008, he was awarded an OBE for services to local government.