Although they will not be able to attend his funeral, the people of Axminster will be able to pay their respects to three-times mayor Douglas Hull.

The funeral of Axminster's longest serving councillor will take place on Friday, June 12.

Before the private cremation there will be an opportunity for people to pay their respects - adhering to suitable social distancing - when the hearse will stop at the Trinity Square entrance to the Minster Green at 1pm.

Cllr Hull had a great love of garden flowers and mourners will be invited to take a single bloom or stem of vegetation and place it in one of the buckets of water which will be placed outside the Guildhall between 10am and 12noon on Wednesday, June 10.

Town mayor Anni Young will then make these into an arrangement to be placed on the coffin, representing all Cllr Hull's friends who would have wished to be at the service in person, but cannot attend because of Covid-19 regulations.

Cllr Hull served Axminster as a town, district and county councillor for more than 50 years. He served as mayor on three occasions and his wife was also a former First Citizen. He was also an honorary Alderman of Devon

A tribute was paid to him at last week's meeting of East Devon District Council by the then chairman, Cllr Stuart Hughes.