The first female chairman of the Vale of White Horse District Council, Edith Webb, has died after a battle against cancer. She was 82.

Mrs Webb represented Kingston Bagpuize and Southmoor for the Conservatives on the district council, which she helped found, following local government re-organisation in 1973.

She became the council's fifth chairman and its first female chairman in 1987. Mrs Webb served on the council for 18 years until her retirement in 1991.

She was born in Wetherby, Yorkshire, and met her husband Bob at Tadcaster Grammar School. They were married in 1943.

After the Second World War Mr and Mrs Webb settled in north Kent before moving to Southmoor in 1967.

Mr Webb, 84, said: "She loved her council work and devoted much time to local and district matters in a long career on the district council. But her first priority was her family."

Mrs Webb is survived by her husband, two sons, six grandchildren and four great-grandchidren.

Mrs Webb died on November 13 in Sobell House, Oxford. A funeral service will be held on November 22 at 2pm at St John the Baptist church in Kingston Bagpuize.