TRIBUTES have been paid to the former Conservative county councillor Brenda Trench who has died after a short illness. She was 80.

Mrs Trench served as a county councillor for two decades and was first elected to represent the Maidstone Rural South division in 1981 until 2001, when she stood down.

The high point of her political career came in 1992 when she was elected leader of the county council - the first woman to hold the position.

Mrs trench held a number of important posts and roles throughout her time as a councillor.

She chaired KCC’s education committee for three years between 1987 and 1990 and then took on the chairmanship of the social services committee between 1997 and 1999.

That was at a politically difficult time owing to the proposal to sell off the council’s old people’s homes, then known as Linked Service Centres, which she steered through successfully despite opposition.

She was twice a chairman of the county council, in 1991-1992 and in 2000-2001.

County councillors from all three parties paid tribute to Mrs Trench, who enjoyed the support of her husband Doug throughout her time at Kent County Council.

She was also a former member of Leeds Parish Council and a past President of Soroptimist International of South East England.

Fellow Conservative Cllr Keith Ferrin said she was a formidable lady who had a great sense of fun while Labour county councillor Les Christie, who shadowed her as his party’s social services spokesman, said she was a remarkable lady who would be remembered as the first to female leader of the county council.

Mrs Trench, who lived in Ashford, is survived by her husband and a son and daughter.

A private funeral has taken place at Charing Crematorium, near Ashford.