Tributes have been paid to the "kind and considerate, supportive and giving" Walton South councillor Stuart Hawkins, who died yesterday. 

Cllr Hawkins, who was elected in 2008, was also the chairman of the north area planning sub-committee and chairman of the full planning committee at Elmbridge Council. 

Robert Moran, the council's chief executive, said: “Cllr Hawkins served on Elmbridge Council for eight years and was highly regarded by residents of the borough, by fellow councillors and by council officers. 

"Most recently he was vice chairman of the planning committee among a large number of other prominent roles. 

"We will remember Stuart as a man of great professional accomplishments but also as someone who was kind and considerate, supportive and giving. Our thoughts are with his family.”

Other Elmbridge councillors left tributes to him on social media. Lewis Brown, councillor for Oatlands Park, said Cllr Hawkins was "one of the nicest people I have ever met in local politics and he fought bravely against a horrible illness. He will be missed".

Walton Ambleside councillor Andrew Kelly said he was an "incredibly dedicated, committed local councillor who worked amazingly hard."