A pillar of the community has been made an honorary alderman for his outstanding service over the years.

Members of Minster-on-Sea Parish Council took advantage of a change in the law to bestow the title on its vice chairman Peter MacDonald.

He is now an Honorary Alderman of the Parish of Minster-on-Sea.

At a special meeting, held at Friendship House, Minster, Mr MacDonald was presented with a scroll and salver by council chairman Ken Ingleton.

Clerk Trish Codrington said they chose to give the title in recognition of his efforts for the community and the huge amount of hard work he has put in over the years.

This includes the Lower Road upgrade, his work on the council's planning and transportation committee and his hands-on approach to working with the prison service and the community pay-back team.

The change in the Local Government Act means parish councils can now give titles to people who they feel deserve them and they were unanimous in deciding Mr MacDonald, of Chequers Road, Minster, should receive it.

Mrs Codrington said Mr MacDonald, 70, was described at the meeting as being one of a kind and was embarrassed at receiving so much praise - he insisted his work needed no reward.

Mr MacDonald said: "The whole council is striving to get a better environment for our electors and for the people of Sheppey and we are determined to see improvements.

"For me, getting the Lower Road reinstated as an A-road after a lot of arguments – that was an achievement.

"We are making progress and it's for the benefit of everyone.

"Sometimes it doesn't cost vast amounts of money to do things because they can be done yourself.

"I'm quite taken aback really by the honour - it's really quite nice.

"We have got an awful lots to do on the Island in our time here and I hope everyone will pull together.

"My long-term aim is I want to see an Island council - that would be the icing on the cake."