Villagers and regulars came out in the rain to line the street outside a "much loved" landlord and councillor's former pub.

They converged outside the Nag's Head in Lower Stoke which Mick Pendergast had run for the last 10 years.

Well-wishers were invited to applause as the cortege taking Mr Pendergast to his funeral winded its way along lanes on the Hoo Peninsula yesterday.

Mr Pendergast died last month after a short battle with cancer at the age of 63.

Steve Burgess of Hawden and Burgess Family Funeral Directors appealed to the community to come out and pay their respects.

Mr Burgess, from the Hoo-based company handling his farewell ceremony, said:" I know that many of the local village population as well as the surrounding areas who frequent his pub who are proud to call it their local because of the calibre of the family-run atmosphere they receive.

"They will all certainly miss Michael, his larger than life presence, his banter and sense of humour. As a local councillor he always fought for the community he loved."

Cllr Pendergast had represented the Hoo Peninsula since 2015 as a member of UKIP before going independent in 2018.

As a licensee, the south east Londoner was heavily involved in a campaign to save the village's school, Stoke Primary Academy, from a merger with Allhallows Primary School.

The pub had played host to a party for the school's pupils to celebrate the successful campaign – the decision not to merge the schools was later overturned.

In 2019, he helped launch a new political party Medway People's Voice which campaigned for better infrastructure on the peninsula.

During his 10-year tenure as landlord at the Nag's Head, Cllr Pendergast turned the pub's fortunes around and it is now considered to be at the heart of the community and has hosted several events including a Platinum Jubilee celebration earlier this year.

He was regularly involved in "save Hoo Peninsula" protests and worked closely with community leaders and residents.

Cllr Pendergast felt strongly that as part of the government's £170 million Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF), not enough was being done to make improvements to the top end of the peninsula, such as Lower Stoke where he was based.

He said: "Our end of the Peninsula gets absolutely nothing but grief. I've made it quite clear to them and all their consultations that I don't want nothing to do with it, I am not in favour of it in any way shape or form. Technically, they're cutting the bottom of the Peninsula off.

"Grain, Allhallows, High Halstow, Lower Stoke – and all the Stokes – get nothing from it, nothing at all."

Fellow ward councillor Ron Sands (Ind), said: "Mick was a vocal and staunch supporter of the Hoo Peninsula and always stood up for the rights of the residents.

"He was a very good ward councillor and Medway Council will miss him.

"The people of Stoke have lost their much-loved landlord of the village pub, but of course the biggest loss is to Julie and the family and I offer my heartfelt condolences for that."

Mick is survived by his partner Julie, who said: "He was my soul mate, rock and best friend and I will miss him so much."

He leaves two children, son Dexter and daughter Lindsey.

His funeral was at Thames View Crematorium in Shorne near Gravesend.