TRIBUTES have poured in for a former Mayor of Southampton who has died.

Dorothy Brown, who was Mayor of the city in 1983, died peacefully in a nursing home at the age of 94.

A former Conservative councillor for Sholing, Mrs Brown took up the role of mayor in the place of her husband Ernest who had been the Conservative's original candidate.

However, just weeks before he was due to be named Southampton's first citizen, Mr Brown lost an election in his ward of St Luke's to Labour's Howard Rose and was subsequently no longer a city councillor.

The then Conservative controlled council put forward Mrs Brown as his replacement and she went on to have an extremely successful year as the city's first citizen.

Born in Gosport Mrs Brown had lived in Southampton since the early 1950s and was a nurse working in Southampton's Moorgreen Hospital.

Following her time as mayor, Mrs Brown continued her career in politics as a councillor for Sholing.

Leader of Southampton City Council, Simon Letts, said: "We just about crossed over as councillors, she was a stalwart of the Conservative group and I remember her contributions to council meetings very fondly.

"Even at the end of her political career I remember her very fondly as a worthy opponent.

"She will be missed around the Civic Centre."

Current Southampton mayor, Linda Norris, said: "We are very saddened to hear of her demise and for the loss for the family.

"I do hope that everybody that remembers her attends the funeral."

A Civic Funeral Service will take place on Wednesday, December 23 at St Mary's Church, Southampton followed by a private burial.

Her family have asked for family flowers only and for donations to be made to Dementia UK, payable to RC Payne and Son.

The funeral of Cllr Tony Noyce, who was first citizen of the Eastleigh borough last year, will be held at Southampton Crematorium on Monday at 1.15pm.

As reported, Cllr Noyce, who was an Eastleigh Borough councillor for West End North since 2007 and a West End Parish councillor of Hatch Grange ward since 2003, passed away aged 72 at Countess Mountbatten Hospice in West End on December 8 following a short illness.

Tributes were paid to the grandfather, of West End, in the most recent full council meeting and a minute's silence was also held.

Family flowers only are requested but donations can be made to either HASAG (Hampshire Asbestos Support and Awareness Group) or the Countess Mountbatten Hospice Charity care of Jonathan Terry Independent Funeral Directors in Southampton.