A PLAY area is to be renamed after a former mayor of Colchester who died last month.

Nick Cope, who oversaw the borough’s initial response to the Covid-19 pandemic, died of natural causes on March 7.

Colchester Council has now agreed to rename the children’s play area off Cavalry Road the Mayor Cope Garden in memory of the veteran Lib Dem councillor.

A Lib Dem spokesman said: “It will be recalled councillor Cope had long campaigned for this children’s play area, and it had been his hope to formally open it during his year as mayor.

“The official opening will be carried out in due course by his wife, Liz.”

Serving on the council’s licensing committee at the time of his death, Mr Cope, who was born in 1949, dedicated 28 years of his life to Colchester, having represented New Town and Christ Church ward since 1994.

Speaking at the time of his death Colchester mayor Robert Davidson and Colchester Council leader Paul Dundas said the borough owed Mr Cope “a huge debt of gratitude”.

They added: “Nick’s warm and thoughtful personality made him a dedicated and respected councillor.

“He had a proud record of standing up for his community and championing environmental causes.”