LONG-SERVING councillor Molly Rennie has been honoured for her 40 years of public service.

Dorchester Mayor Les Fry presented her with flowers and a gardening voucher at the start of Tuesday's evening town council meeting.

The visibly surprised South Ward councillor, who was first elected to the town council in 1986, thanks fellow councillors for the presentation telling them: "It's been an utter pleasure… mostly."

She said the presentation made her recall all the events the town council had organised over the years and all the residents councillors had been able to help.

"None of us would be in this room if we didn't care about the community," she said.

Cllr Fry thanked Cllr Rennie for the help and support she had offered to the town over the years and for helping him, as a guide and mentor, when he first became an elected councillor.

Cllr Rennie, who has twice served as town mayor, is well known for her work with victims of domestic abuse, being awarded the MBE in the 2019 New Year Honours for that role.

Over the years she has been involved with youth groups, the town's charities for older people and is currently the chair of the town's markets committee, the town council having recently taken over the management of the weekly markets.

At the Tuesday evening council meeting she urged the town council to consider becoming an Age Friendly Town, a suggestion which will now be considered by the council's policy committee.