Alison Cook, a former chairman and leader of Sevenoaks District Council, has died.

Mrs Cook, 76, passed away at Pembury Hospital on Thursday following a short illness.

Mrs Cook, who represented Leigh then later Leigh and Chiddingstone Causeway, was first elected to the council in 1987 and was its leader from 1999 to 2005.

In May 2006, she became the council’s chairman before stepping down as a district councillor in May 2015.

She had trained as a nurse at the Middlesex Hospital in London before moving to Hitchin where she continued her career at the Lister Hospital.

In 1974 she moved from Cambridgeshire to Leigh where she had lived for the next 45 years.

Outside of the Council, Mrs Cook was a trustee of several charities, a governor at three schools, a board member of Moat Housing Association and she also chaired the Sevenoaks District Arts Council.

She was chairman of the Tunbridge Wells Community Health Council, a position she had held for several years.

Alison is survived by her husband James, four children and grandchildren.

Cllr Peter Fleming, the current leader, said: “Alison was very supportive when I became a councillor and it was a huge privilege to serve with her.

"She was a real local advocate for Leigh and Chiddingstone Causeway and strong voice for the Sevenoaks District and districts across Kent and the South East, but she was much more than that.

"She was a community stalwart involved in so many aspects of the local life. Alison always worked hard for others and will be greatly missed by our councillors and staff and many others throughout the district.

"We are keeping (her husband) James and the family in our minds at this time.”

Head to our politics page for expert analysis and all the latest news from your politicians and councils.