A former Mayor of Preston has died aged 82.

Rose Kinsella, who was a councillor for the St Matthews ward for more than a decade, passed away on Tuesday 30 August.

Staff at Preston City Council are due to pay their respects as Mrs Kinsella has a civc funeral at the Minster.

She was elected to the city council in 1991 and during her time as a Labour councillor served on the housing committee, Guild committee and was chair of the leisure services committee between 1996 and 1998.

She spent a year as Mayor between 1998 and 1999.

Councillor Peter Rankin, leader of the city council and Labour group leader, said: “I’ve known Rose for over 20 years. She was a lovely, warm person with a heart of gold. As mayor in 1998-99, the people she met in the course of her duties took to her straight away.

“In fact because it’s such a ‘people job’ she was probably one of the best mayors Preston has had in the recent past. She had the human touch.”

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Rose stepped down in 2002 as a councillor but continued to be actively involved in the community.

In 2014 a road at a new housing development in Deepdale was named after her – Kinsella Close.

Her funeral will take place from 2.30pm on Friday 8 September. The cortege will pass the Town Hall and staff are expected to line Lancaster Road to pay their respects.

Did you know Rose? You can leave your tributes in the comments below