Tributes are today being paid to former Bank of England governor and ex-Kent County Council chairman Robin Leigh-Pemberton, who has died aged 86.

With wife Rose, the Torry Hill resident was a well-known personality around the greater Sittingbourne area - especially in charity circles.

A former chairman of Kent County Council and Lord Lieutenant of the county, he last featured in the media in April when he spoke after the funeral of Baroness Thatcher, whom he worked with for seven years.

Lord Kingsdown, as he later became, was Britain's top banker from 1983 until 1993, including on Black Wednesday in 1992 which saw the pound forced from the European Exchange Rate Mechanism.

Paying tribute, Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Gordon Henderson said: "He was actually one of our better chairman of the Bank of England and I always felt proud that he was a resident as Lord Kingsdown here in Swale.

"He was a good friend to our local community and contributed a lot to charitable organisations. He will be greatly missed to be honest."

Swale council leader Cllr Andrew Bowles said: "This is very sad news and our thoughts are with his immediate family. It is a loss to the whole of the community. He was a significant figure in the area and nationally."

Current Bank of England governor Mark Carney said: "On behalf of the Bank and all its staff, both past and present, I extend our most sincere sympathies to Lord Kingsdown's wife and family.

"He made a substantial contribution to economic policy and the financial system of the United Kingdom, both in the public and private sector.

"He will be fondly remembered by current and former colleagues at the Bank of England."