A date has been set for a by-election following the death of a councillor.

Cllr Mick Pendergast, who represented Peninsula ward on Medway Council, died last month following a short battle with cancer. He was 63.

The former landlord of the Nags Head pub in Stoke village had been a councillor since 2015 and was a member of UKIP before going independent.

His funeral was held on Thursday after a procession from the Hoo Peninsula to Thamesview Crematorium in Shorne, followed by drinks in the pub afterwards.

The service was attended by the mayor Jan Aldous (Con) and members of Mick's former rugby team, Westcombe Park.

The official notice of the by-election was posted by the council the same afternoon, confirming it will take place on Thursday, December 8.

The last date for nomination papers to be received is this Friday, (November 11) and a list of candidates will be published the following Monday.

"Nobody wants a by-election in these circumstances and there's always going to be difficulties at this time of year..."

The next council election is due to be held on Thursday, May 4.

Rochester and Strood Constituency Conservative Association has selected Isle of Grain parish councillor Harold Ogunfemi as its candidate, whilst David Hodges is due to stand for Labour.

Chris Spalding, who was a friend Mick's and also his political assistant, intends on standing in the by-election as an independent candidate and has started campaigning.

The Local Government Boundary Commission carried out a revision of the council ward boundaries, which were confirmed in Parliament last year.

The Peninsula had been one ward represented by three councillors but under the changes two new wards – Hoo St Werburgh and High Halstow, and All Saints – would be created and represented by three and a single councillor respectively.