Tributes have been paid to a “wonderful” and “well-respected” Reading councillor who passed away suddenly just weeks after being re-elected.

Colette Dennis was taken to Royal Berkshire Hospital on Wednesday and was transferred to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford after taking ill. She died on Friday, June 9.

Colette was re-elected as Labour councillor for Norcot ward in last month’s local elections, with her husband made deputy mayor of Reading at the end of May.

Friends and colleagues have spoken of their grief and sadness at the news, while paying tribute to Colette’s character.

Councillor Alice Mpofu-Coles (Labour, Whitley) said she was “sad and shocked” at the news, and said it was only last week she had heard from Colette asking to meet her for coffee.

She said: “Colette was an amazing woman working hard on social injustices in our town Reading.

“May her soul rest in peace and condolences to her husband and family.

“I’m praying for their comfort.”

Matt Rodda, the Labour MP for Reading East, meanwhile described Colette as a “wonderful person”, saying: “[Colette] was dedicated to helping others and who was dedicated to supporting diversity and social inclusion.

“She was having a significant impact in her role as a councillor for Norcot Ward and was widely respected for her hard work for local residents and on issues across the town.

“I would like to offer my deepest condolences to her family and friends at this very difficult time.”

Cllr Dennis’ cousin Carolyn said: “She was my beloved cousin, confidante, role model and much more.

“Kind, dynamic, determined, confident and all-round wonder-woman.

”A huge loss to my family, she’ll be forever missed.

“Rest in eternal blessed peace.”

Members of the council’s policy committee observed a minute’s silence in Cllr Colette’s memory when they met on Monday, June 12.

In a tribute at the meeting, Jason Brock (Labour, Southcote) the leader of the council, said: “She was a wonderful ward councillor, an active member of the community in Norcot, quite especially around Dee Park and the Dee Caf community café at the Norcot Mission Church and its lunch club, and at the Oak Tree Care Home.

“Throughout her work on the council he always showed compassion, commitment and an insatiable spirit to stand up for her residents and challenge any inequities she saw.”

Colette previously served as deputy mayoress in 2017-18 when Glenn Dennis was also deputy mayor, despite her not holding position as a councillor.

She  is survived by her husband, her two sons and her two grandchildren.

A by-election will be held in Norcot at a later date.

Cllr Dennis won her seat this year with 1,202 votes, a majority of 831 over runner up Suzanne Rowe, the Conservative Party candidate.