A BENCH in memory of a former York councillor and leading disability rights campaigner has been unveiled in a library garden.

Cllr Lynn Jeffries, who championed the rights of people with disabilities for many years - giving a voice to some of the city’s most vulnerable residents - died in 2014, aged 58.

She served on the board of York Independent Living Network, was part of the York Coalition of Disabled People, improved services for disabled patients at York Hospital and regularly provided disability equality training at the University of York.

She also served for several years as a City of York Councillor for Westfield ward, firstly with Labour and then as an Independent before finally joining the Liberal Democrats.

The memorial bench has been placed in the garden of the Acomb Explore Library in Front Street.

Katie Atkinson, team leader at the library, said she often used to come there and sit in the garden.

The bench carries the following message inscribed in the wood: “In memory of Lynn Jeffries. She was a good friend to all. 5 March 1956 -22 August 2014.”

It has been provided by the Cornlands and Lowfield Area Residents’ Association, whose chair, Eileen Winterburn, fought back tears as she paid tribute to Lynn during a short ceremony yesterday.

“She was a good friend for the residents and for the library,” she said. “She is missed.”

Also present at the ceremony was Shirley Gumley, chair of the Foxwood Residents Association.

Westfield Liberal Democrat councillor Andrew Waller cut a ribbon to unveil the bench, and spoke of how Lynn loved meeting people and talking to them, and said the bench would provide an opportunity for people coming to the library to meet and chat.

Ms Atkinson, of the library, said the garden was well used in summer months, for example for story times for the under fives, for games of croquet and as a place to enjoy a coffee, and the bench would be well used.