Maidstone Borough Council will hold a by-election next month following the death of Councillor Dave Sargeant.

The 77-year-old tragically died after suffering a massive heart attack in May leaving a casual vacancy in Shepway South ward.

Cllr Sargeant was the first member of UKIP to be elected to the council in 2014 and became leader of the group.

Cllr Sargeant, of Westmoreland Road, Shepway, had been a keen sportsman in his youth, a pastor and had run his own business.

His main interests had been to protect play areas and provide more facilities for young people in his ward.

One of his political rivals, Lib Dem Councillor Dave Naghi, paid tribute to him

He said: "Dave Sargeant was a real, honest, genuine man. He didn't seek to become a councillor for fame or power, but for all the right reasons - he wanted to help the people in his ward.

"He was a lovely feller and will be genuinely missed."

Candidates for the Shepway seat are as follows:

John Raymond Barned - UKIP

Milden Halyungu Choongo - Liberal Democrats

Jon Hicks - Independent

Bob Hinder - The Conservative Party

Dan Wilkinson - Labour

Elections will be held on Thursday, September 8.