A GWENT councillor who made a "significant contribution" to the lives of residents, died after a two-year battle with cancer.

Elaine Davies, 54, a former mayor of Caldicot, died at her home in the town on Friday night.

Despite spending the last two years battling breast cancer, which later spread to her bones, friends said she rarely complained about her illness.

The mother-of-two began her career as a civil servant before joining Caldicot Resource Centre as a benefits advice worker in 1990.

She was elected to Caldicot town council and served the West End ward as a Labour member for the last 12 years.

Wyndham Conniff was a founder member of the Resource Centre in Church Road, where Ms Davies continued to work until it closed three years ago.

He said: "Despite her own problems she never moaned. She always had time for other people.

"She made a significant contribution to the lives of people in Caldicot."

Jim Higginson, a friend and fellow councillor, said Ms Davies "had her finger on the button with everything going on".

He said she and his late wife, Rae, who was also on the town council, were like "two peas in a pod".

Councillor Debbie Jones said Ms Davies made great efforts to attend council meetings despite her illness.

Another member, James Harris, described her as a "sincere and genuine person who worked extremely hard for the community".

"It's sad to see someone as committed as her leave us at such a relatively young age," he said.

Ms Davies leaves two daughters, Rhianydd, 27, and Abby, 23.