A COUNCILLOR renowned for her growing collection of berets is resigning to move to France.

Corinne Thompson, former Witham mayor who has been on the town council for five years, will be saying goodbye to her residents at the end of April.

Mrs Thompson, who used to work in London helping people in debt, said she wanted to know more about what was going on in her own town.

She became Witham Mayor in 2014, as well as chairman of the River Walk and member of the team at Colchester Food Bank.

She said: “I have had a fabulous five years and have met a lot of amazing people.

“I wanted to put something back into the community and promote the positives of Witham.

“My highlights have been creating the Friends of the River Walk and working with youths in Witham to set up the Mayor’s Awards, from which more than 100 youths were rewarded for their hard work in the first year.”

Mrs Thompson, who is much-loved for her quirky and colourful beret collection, will be moving to France with her husband Steve as he finds work.

She said: “I have been really busy over the past five years so I am going to spend some time growing vegetables, keeping bees and making jam.”

The councillor for Witham South was also the chair of the Chamber of Commerce last year, and saw the membership treble.

She also campaigned to get Wifi in the town centre.

She has now resigned from the town council and will leave England on Saturday, April 30.