A woman who has championed the rights of council tenants in Sutton for more than 15 years has retired.

Jean Crossby, chairwoman of the Sutton Federation of Tenant and Resident Associations, first joined the organisation in 1995 and has headed the organisation for the last five years.

In that time Mrs Crossby has campaigned for properties to be brought up to decent homes standard and was instrumental is getting the St Helier Festival off the ground.

She said “I have some great memories of what the federation and local tenants have achieved together, such as the Moonlight Robbery Campaign which saw us knocking on the door of 10 Downing Street.”

A farewell reception was hosted by Sutton Housing Partnership (SHP) and attended by MPs Paul Burstow and Tom Brake and Councillor Ruth Dombey, deputy leader of the council.

Coun Dombey said: “Every now and again you meet somebody who has made an enormous difference to our borough – that person is Jean. She’s been phenomenal and we will miss her energy and commitment”.

Paul Burstow, MP for Sutton & Cheam, said “Jean has been a star and it has been a pleasure to work with her as she has battled for the rights of tenants."

The federation is a voluntary organisation funded by SHP, which operates from Sutton Gate where SHP’s main office is located.