A MEMORIAL service for a long-service Hampshire councillor has been postponed due to the extreme weather conditions.

Civic chiefs and residents were set to pay tribute to the late Cllr Ken Thornber CBE at Winchester Cathedral today but a spokesman for the cathedral confirm that the memorial service would need to be rearranged.

It is not yet known when the service will be held.

The spokesman said: "We regretfully announce that tomorrow's memorial service at 2pm for Cllr Ken Thornber CBE has been cancelled due to inclement weather.

"The memorial service will be rescheduled and more details will be available soon."

As previously reported, Cllr Thornber, who was an honorary alderman, served residents in Hampshire for 40 years after being first elected in 1977.

He passed away in November following a short illness.

Paying tribute to Cllr Thornber following his death, Hampshire County Council leader Roy Perry said: “He was a hugely respected politician, both locally and nationally, and a public servant in the truest sense of the word.

“He not only represented the people of Hampshire, but was also a voice for local government on the national stage, with roles as chairman of the County Councils Network, as well as chairman of the Local Government Association’s resources committee. He also championed new ways of working in local government, introducing a voluntary partnership to bring public services in the county together.

"One of his many personal innovations was the commission he set up in Hampshire on adult social care which became a landmark for national policy development."

A number of other key site in Winchester have confirmed they are keep their doors closed today as a result of the snow.

Winchester University said its campus would be closed today, along with the Jane Austen Museum in Chawton. The Watercress Line has confirmed it will not be running services for the rest of this week and the Winchester Science Centre has postponed its maths weekend.

The PeaceJam UK Youth conference at Winchester University featuring Nobel Peace Laureate Tawakkol Karman, which was due to be held over this weekend has been postponed, while there will also be no waste collections in Winchester, the city council has confirmed.