FORMER West Somerset district and county councillor, Lesley Pring, has been awarded an honorary degree.

The University of Plymouth has given her a Master of Arts degree as "public recognition of her achievements", including her 21 years' service to local government.

Mrs Pring, aged 70, was Somerset county councillor for Williton from 1980 to 1985.

She served as an independent member of the district council representing East Brendon from 1974 to 1995, during which time she chaired most of the major committees.

She has also given her services to education and has been a Somerset College of Arts and Technology governor for 26 years.

Her term as chairman, from 1985 to 1991, was during a difficult time as it led up to the college's incorporation. She has also been vice-chairman on several occasions, most recently from 1998 to 2000.

As chairman of the employment committee, Mrs Pring has overseen staffing arrangements in a "sensitive, level and fair manner".

Over the past 25 years, Mrs Pring has been instrumental in establishing the governing council of the Cat Fancy, the feline equivalent of the Kennel Club.

As chairman, she established its headquarters in Bridgwater and, after she stepped down in 1984, she became the secretary. In this role, Mrs Pring was in complete charge of administration of the Cat Fancy council - a voluntary but full-time job from which she has now retired.

She has written several advisory pamphlets for the Cat Fancy and is co-author of a 'Cat Encyclopaedia' to be published this year.

Mrs Pring is currently president of two cat clubs and a trustee of two charities, the Cat Welfare Trust and the Feline Advisory Bureau.

The university cited Mrs Pring's "outstanding contribution" to education as reason for awarding her an MA, and said: "Her management experience and broad knowledge has been invaluable in running the charities and she remains very much involved in fundraising."