A former town mayor and councillor has retired after 12 years service.

Janet Hedges, who served as Epping Town Mayor in 2009, stepped down from her position as town councillor at Tuesday's Epping town council meeting.

Mrs Hedges is best known for making a special iced wedding-style cake bearing the town council crest to mark the appointment of the new town mayor at every annual council meeting.

She was a member of the Planning Committee and represented the Council on various organisations including the Theydon Trust and the Epping-Eppingen Twinning Association.

Current mayor Barbara Scruton, who presented Mrs Hedges with the flowers and a card, said: “I thank Janet Hedges for everything you she has done.

"I know you have become a great friend to me since I joined the Council and I will miss you.”