TRIBUTES were paid to two of the county's long-serving public figures at Somerset County Council last week.

Lady Gass, the former Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset and former West Somerset coroner Michael Rose, who both recently stepped down after many years of service to Somerset were given thanks at a full council meeting.

Lady Gass is a former Somerset County Councillor and High Sheriff who served as Lord-Lieutenant since 1998 until February this year.

Following the meeting she was presented with the Somerset flag by the outgoing Council chairman, Cllr David Fothergill.

Michael Rose was the West Somerset Coroner for 48 years and has carried out thousands of legal investigations into sudden and unexplained deaths in Somerset.

Council leader, Cllr John Osman, led the thanks for Mr Rose at the meeting and presented him with a glass dish on behalf of the Council by way of thanks.

He also received not one but two standing ovations.