FORMER colleagues of the late Lord Mayor of Oxford, Gill Sanders, have paid tribute to her at the first full gathering of the county council since she died.

Councillors at Oxfordshire County Council's full council meeting on Tuesday described Mrs Sanders as an "amazing" woman.

Mrs Sanders served the people of Oxford as a city councillor for 26 years and as a county councillor for nine years.

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She served as Deputy Leader of the City Council, Chair of the County Council and Lord Mayor of Oxford.

Leader of Oxford County Council councillor Liz Leffman said she “respected” Mrs Sanders.

She said: “I remember Gill as somebody very lively, I was surprised when I heard of her death because she struck me as someone with a great amount of life.”

She added: “Thanks to Gill and everything she has done for this council and her community."

Deputy leader councillor Liz Brighouse said Mrs Sanders was "amazing".

She said: "She wanted to be in the place that considered the needs of children and young people. She could do that very well on the county council."

Ms Brighouse added: “Gill was one of those people who was absolutely full of life. Her life was a life lived well.”

Councillors stood in the chamber in silence for a minute to remember Mrs Sanders for what she contributed to Oxford and both the city and county council.

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