A former Mayor of Maidstone has become the new chairman of Kent County Council.

Cllr Paulina Stockell is only the third woman in the county’s history to have held the post.

Cllr Stockell is the KCC member for Maidstone Rural West Divison and has served as the chairman of its strategic planning and regeneration committee, chairman of the Maidstone local board and latterly the chief whip.

She has also been a Maidstone borough councillor for 21 years, representing Sutton Valence and Langley.

Cllr Stockell, who has lived in Sutton Valence, Maidstone, for more than 40 years, was educated at Thanet School of Art, graduated from Canterbury College of Art, and completed post graduate studies at Canterbury Christ Church University.

The former secondary school teacher was vice chairman to the outgoing county chairman, Bill Hayton.

During her year’s term of office, she has chosen MacMillan Cancer Support and The Children’s Society as her chairman’s charities.

She said: "I am truly delighted and honoured that the county council has elected me as chairman. I will promote and uphold the values of my home county and bang the drum for Kent wherever I can.

"As a mother and a school teacher, children and young people have been an important part of my life. During my chairmanship I want to celebrate the contribution that children and young people make to the county."

Her vice chairman will be Richard King who was first elected to the county council in May 1997, representing Ashford Rural West.

A retired broadcasting executive, Cllr King has been a director of both the Kent and Maidstone Chambers of Commerce and chairman of Maidstone Enterprise Agency and the Maidstone Business Point.