Councillor awarded honour after 40 years' service

Jonathan Saksena (centre) was awarded the freedom of Preston at a town hall ceremony

A councillor who was first elected more than 40 years ago says he "could write a book" on the thousands of cases he has dealt with after being awarded the freedom of the city in Preston.

Jonathan Saksena reckons that, since 1984, he has helped constituents with more than 24,000 pieces of casework as a Labour councillor in Brookfield and – following a two-year gap after an election loss - Ribbleton.

Now aged 74, he said he did not feel "any diminishing enthusiasm" but would probably not stand for re-election next year.

"That is probably enough," he added, after serving on many committees but always managing to avoid the planning committee which he said he had an "aversion" to.

"It's more difficult to do things these days – you have to do your best with much more limited funding," he said.

Councillor Saksena also worked in library services at Lancashire County Council until his retirement.

Speaking at a town hall ceremony, Preston mayor Sue Whittam said: "Jonathan Saksena has been a wonderful ambassador for Preston for many years and we thank him for his service."

He is the 26th person to receive the freedom of Preston since 1902, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.