TRIBUTES have been paid following the death of the widow of a former Southampton city MP.

Lady Ruby Hill, 83, known as Susan, was married for 40 years to Conservative Sir James Hill. He served as Test MP between 1970 and 1974 and from 1979 to 1997.

Lady Susan worked as an ambulance driver and built up her own chain of hairdressers, including a boutique called Mantrap.

Lady Susan was a president of Southampton Test Conservative Association and helped run the family's successful investment business, Clanfield Properties. She was awarded a CBE for services to the European Union of Women as a national chairwoman of its British section.

Lady Susan moved to Kings Somborne after her husband's death in 1999. The couple had five children.