ANN WIDDECOMBE has joined the ranks of the great and good of Maidstone by becoming a Freeman of the Borough.

Miss Widdecombe, Conservative MP for Maidstone and the Weald, was officially handed the honour at a special meeting of Maidstone council on Monday night.

Councillors from all parties praised the MP, who has served the county town since 1987.

Council leader Cllr Fran Wilson (Lib Dem) described Miss Widdecombe as one of the most colourful characters in politics.

She said she would be sorely missed from the political landscape when she stood down at the next election.

Miss Widdecombe said she it was "a tremendous honour and privilege" to receive the Freedom of the Borough. She thanked council officials from both Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells council for the help they had given her over the years in carrying out her parliamentary case work.

In a touching speech Miss Widdecombe described how Maidstone had changed over the 20 years she had been an MP.

"What has not changed is the warmth of people in Maidstone and the dedication of its public servants," she said.

After the ceremony Miss Widdecombe joked that although she had no intention of driving a flock of sheep across Maidstone bridge, she may take her newly adopted goats Bruce and Megan across instead.