The former mayor of Ely has announced that she is to retire from the City of Ely Council.

Cllr Sue Austen, who has lived in the city for 50 years, has decided to step down from her role as a parish councillor.

The mother and grandmother's background is in caring/carer support and disability issues. She was elected as mayor and chair of the council from 2020 to 2022.

The Mayor of Ely, Cllr Chris Phillips, said: "I was very sorry to hear that Sue Austen had decided, for health and family reasons, to step down from membership of the City of Ely Council.

"Sue was first elected in 2015 and had been a member of the district council for some eight years prior to that, as well as serving a term as a county councillor.

"She soon showed at city that she had a command of the way in which local government worked and her knowledge of planning matters and finance were second to none.

"Perhaps more than all that, however, Sue was and is a community champion and, open and approachable, she has always been sought out by parishioners when they have needed help and advice.

"From 2020-2022, she was our mayor, chairing the council and serving the city at a difficult time when Covid-19 restrictions were very much in force.

"In this role, throughout a challenging two years, she remained in touch with both colleagues and the public and as things returned to a resemblance of normal was able to resume her duties with great success.

"I'm sure that everyone would want to join with me in thanking Sue for being so hard-working a councillor and community leader and wish her all the very best in her retirement."

The notice of the councillor vacancy has been displayed and the council will now follow the set process to find a replacement.