Paddy Ashdown, the former Liberal Democrat leader, who died on Saturday, has been described as a "warm and inspirational human being" by party members in the county.

Martin Vye, a former county councillor and Lord Mayor of Canterbury City Council, was a personal friend of Mr Ashdown, who died aged 77, only two months after revealing he had bladder cancer.

He said: “Liberal Democrats in Kent will be deeply saddened by the death of Paddy Ashdown.

"We remember his leadership at a time when the Liberal Democrats became a force in British politics, but we also remember him as a warm and inspirational human being.”

“I was fortunate to meet him a number of times, not least as guest at the wedding of my daughter and son-in-law, who had worked for him in his office in Parliament.

"He began his career as a Royal Marine officer, and he possessed the qualities of the best of soldiers.

“He was able to assess risks accurately, but not be put off by them and to seize the opportunity he could see behind them.

"Those qualities were instrumental in building the new party formed from the union of Liberals and Social Democrats into a force to be reckoned with.”

“For Liberal Democrats, the memory of his example and leadership will sustain us as we rebuild the strength of our party.

"In particular we remember him as someone who served his country with energy and skill, but who was, at the same time, a passionate European.”

County councillor Rob Bird, who leads the Liberal Democrat opposition group at Kent County Council, said: “Paddy is a massive loss and will be hugely missed by the Lib Dems.

"He had strengths and qualities which are sadly missing in Westminster today.”

Faversham county councillor Anthony Hook tweeted: “I can't put into words what a loss @paddyashdown is.

"He inspired me to join the Lib Dems when I was 18, 1998. Met him many times.

"His books will be a great legacy especially "Beyond Westminster" about the value of close communities, as in Faversham. What a PM he'd have been.”

Paddy Ashdown last came to Kent in 2015 during the general election campaign to rally support for candidate Jasper Gerard who was standing in Maidstone.