Molly Pratten, the first mayor of Telscombe who until a few years ago was one of the oldest councillors in the country, has died peacefully in her sleep, aged 100.

Friends, relatives and members of the community were attending a funeral service today at Woodvale Crematorium, Brighton, followed by a wake at Telscombe Civic Centre.

Battling Molly, a founder member of East Saltdean Conservative Association who stood for election as a member of East Saltdean Residents' Association, once lost her seat on Telscombe Town Council in 1987.

She fought back to win the East Saltdean ward a year later at the age of 84.

She remained a councillor in Telscombe until well into her 90s with a total of 27 years' service.

Molly was born in Lewes, where her father was a publican, on January 10, 1904.

She was trained as a dancer and for 16 years performed on the London stage with George Robey and his troupe and Hippodrome-Eight.

She also toured abroad in South Africa and Canada.

She married husband Ivor in 1930 and her son Michael was born the following year.

He later moved to New York and died 20 years ago.

When she moved to Saltdean she and her husband became involved with the community and became active members of Kemp Town Conservatives.

She first became a councillor in l967 at the age of 63, when Telscombe was still a parish, and was the first woman to hold a senior post when she became vice- chairman in 1973.

When she became the first mayor of the new town council in 1974 there was much mocking and she became known as "the Mayor of Toytown".

There were not many events for her to attend as the first mayor.

Nowadays the Mayor of Telscombe is based at a brand new civic centre and has a full programme of events.

Molly was involved in the decision to purchase Telscombe Tye on behalf of the residents and was an active member of Age Concern, where she joked that she spent her time helping people who were mostly younger than her.

She was also a keen member of the Women's Institute.

She remained in her home in Walesbeech Road, Saltdean, until she was taken into hospital and then a nursing home in Seaford, where she died on July 7.

Telscombe town clerk Kathleen Verrall said: "She was a remarkable woman.

"She was always very lively, involved in so many activities, and really stood up for East Saltdean."