A LONG-SERVING city councillor was given a gift and a round of applause at his last meeting.

Cllr Frank Pearson recently announced he would be retiring from Winchester City Council at the next election. 

He has been a councillor for 22 years and his last meeting was the planning committee on Wednesday, April 17. 

READ MORE: Frank Pearson to retire from Winchester City Council

Just before the second half of the meeting started, chairman Cllr Jane Rutter presented him with a gift.

The Conservative councillor served on the planning committee for around 12 years. On receiving the gift, the former mayor said: “This is the first time I have been given a gift like this since Hampshire Education decided they were going to give a long service award. The insult was they wrote to us all and asked how long we had worked for them and the comments were not gratefully received. Anyway, thank you very much.”

The city council elections are being held on Thursday May 2.