Tributes have been paid to long-serving Malvern Hills Conservator Irene Southall, who died on Saturday, aged 92.

Mrs Southall, nee Scott, was born in London in 1911 and at the start of the Second World War moved to Mathon with her husband, Richard, where she threw herself into community life.

She was a geography teacher at several secondary schools in the area, including the former Ledbury Grammer School (now John Masefield) and St Cloud's.

She also became secretary of the Ledbury Art Society and was heavily involved with the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE).

David Hawkins, a trustee of the Worcestershire branch of the CPRE, worked with Mrs Southall for more than 30 years.

He remembered her passion for the environment and for getting involved with causes, such as the fight to protect countryside flowers.

He added: "She would phone up her friends in the early hours of the morning to ask them whether they had seen this year's bluebells on Castlemorton Common, insisting that wellingtons and raincoats should be brought the following day!"

Mrs Southall is best known for her work as a member of the Conservators, where she represented the Mathon ward for 46 years.

Fellow Conservator Sue Thetford recalled her enthusiasm for the hills and how at the beginning of this year, when the group went to view a new piece of land it had acquired in Mathon, Mrs Southall was the first to climb over the locked gate at the entrance.

She said: "She really had guts. People always say it, but they really don't make them like that anymore. She will be greatly missed by all of us."

Mrs Southall was due to retire from the Conservators next month and an oak tree was planted at Hackets on Tuesday to commemorate her service to the group.

She leaves two children, Humphrey and Julia.

The funeral will be held at noon today (Friday) at Mathon Parish Church. A separate memorial service is also planned in the next few months.