THREE past members of West Somerset Council, with a combined public service of almost 50 years, are to be made honorary aldermen.

Councillors will be asked to approve the awards to Eddie May, Tony Knight and Tim Taylor at a special meeting of the council on September 21.

They will be presented by council chairman Cllr Bruce Heywood.

The honour has only been awarded five times since being introduced 16 years ago to recognise the service given to the authority by long serving former members.

Eddie May served as a ward councillor for Williton from 1991-2015 and was chairman of the council from 2008-2011.

Tony Knight represented Watchet from 2003-15 and chaired the council from 2011-12. He was also one of the longest serving chairmen of the planning committee, holding the post for seven years from 2008-15.

Tim Taylor was leader of the council from 2010-15 and first elected to represent Crowcombe and Stogumber ward in 2007 and Carhampton and Withycombe in 2011.

He chaired the scrutiny committee from 2008-10 and the performance committee from 2007-08.

The alderman system was one of the traditional features of local government in England before a radical overhaul in 1974.

Since then, honorary alderman are no longer elected members but can take part in civic functions.