A FORMER councillor and mayor who served her community for 38 years has died.

Doreen Wellfare was Eastleigh Borough Council’s longest serving female member, representing the Hiltingbury ward.

She was elected as mayor of Eastleigh in 1980, and in 2008 was awarded the Honorary Freedom of the Borough of Eastleigh in recognition of her service and other public service roles for the community.

First elected to the council in 1970, Mrs Wellfare took a particular interest in housing, and an Eastleigh residential home is named after her.

During her mayoral year she raised what was then a record amount through her charity appeal to help fund the purchase of the Wessex Body Scanner.

She also launched the borough’s first glass recycling bank.