Tributes have been paid to a "remarkable" woman who has died aged 85.

Iris Green co-founded the Worthing Cat Welfare Trust (WCWT) with Sandra Collins in 1995.

She then served as Worthing mayoress alongside her husband Honorary Alderman Peter Green from 1996 to 1997.

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When she set up the cat charity, which still exists today, Iris and Sandra had 40 cats and £40 in their bank account.

Now the charity has the capability to rehome 280 cats a year.

Former WCWT chairwoman and current trustee Sandra said: "Iris was an inspiration and we worked closely together, supported by our hard-working and loyal volunteers, to create and sustain the successful local charity that we see today.

"We initially paid for cat food and vets bills ourselves until we got our first charity shop in Brighton Road, Worthing.

"This successful venture set us on our current path and today we home an average of 280 needy cats annually.

"Above all, Iris was my very dear friend and I am deeply saddened by her death.

"My thoughts and prayers are with her husband Peter and their son Nigel and his wife Paula."

Iris stepped down as chairwoman of WCWT in 2017 but continued to support the charity until her last days.

More information about the charity can be found at www.worthingcatwelfaretrust.org.

Joss Loader, who now chairs the charity, said: "I first met Iris when I was working as news editor for the Worthing Herald series, both in a professional capacity and also when I adopted cats from our incredible charity.

"Her passion for cat welfare, compassion for all animals and sheer drive and hard work were simply phenomenal.

"She leaves a remarkable legacy and WCWT is forever in her debt."

Iris’s funeral will be held at Worthing Crematorium at noon on May 13.

The charity continues Iris and Sandra's mission to provide and finance a safe and caring environment for abandoned, unwanted and distressed cats and kittens in the Worthing area.

It also arranges veterinary care, neutering and microchipping before finding the cats permanent homes.