Tributes have poured in for Malmesbury's former mayor and dynamic fundraiser Peggie Hickson.

Mrs Hickson died at 6am last Tuesday in Hungerford House care home in Corsham.

She was 85 and had been suffering from Alzheimer's Disease.

Mrs Hickson was mayor from 1997 to 1998 and during this period she made a deep impression on her colleagues.

Coun Martyn Snell said she was a fine councillor who will be sadly missed.

She said: "Peggie was a real Wiltshire stalwart. She was always thinking of others and trying to help people. In fact she was so active with helping good causes, it was hard to keep up with her.

"As a councillor she was one of the toughest and most open people I ever came across."

Coun Ray Sanderson said: "She was a great character and it is a pity her illness took her out of public life in the last few years. She was a great motivator of people and very energetic."

Mrs Hickson was a consummate organiser and fundraiser for the Osteoporosis Society.

During the Second World War she joined the Women's Transport Corps where she drove everything from small cars to double-decker buses.

In 1945 she married George Walters and after the birth of their children Jacqueline and Clive the family moved to the Sudan for four years.

She later married John Hickson and together with their children Diana, Julia, Stephen, Jacqueline and Clive they took over The Kings Arms pub in Malmesbury.

The funeral take place in Rodbourne Church at 11am tomorrow.