Former Egerton ward councillor Brenda Smith (59) resigned her position last week to move to Spain and start a performing arts retreat near Grenada with husband Richard (57).

Mrs Smith said: "Perhaps my proudest achievement is securing the fabulous Egerton Community Centre facility for the residents of Egerton which incorporates the Sure Start Children's Centre.

"It is a Labour initiative in a Conservative borough. Even though there are only three of us in the group we have achieved an awful lot in recent years."

Mrs Smith won a by-election in 2002 shortly after the ward was identified as one of the most deprived in Leicestershire and she made it her mission to improve the situation, keeping her seat at the full election the following year.

She has since founded Residents' Action Group Egerton (Rage) to tackle anti-social behaviour, grot spots, littering and other problems and the group now meets regularly.

In 2007, Mrs Smith was persuaded to stand again to fight off the BNP's first campaign in Melton, although she made it clear she would be moving to Spain before the next election.

At the time, she said there was no place in the town for the far right party beating the group into third place with Mrs Smith picking up 431 votes, Trevor Moncrieff (Lab) 386 and Nick Porter (BNP) 251.

Councillor Matthew O'Callaghan, who is now the leader of the group, praised Mrs Smith as an extremely hard working councillor.

He said: "She has been an outstanding councillor and has dedicated all her energies to serving the Egerton community. Her achievements have been many, including the establishment of Rage, the work on anti-social behaviour which won a national award and the Egerton Community Centre.

"I am sorry she is going but I wish her well in Spain. She can be proud in the fact that she has made a difference."

* An election is expected to be called on September 4.