A former nurse who worked in Gloucester, Cheltenham and the Forest of Dean has been tasked with taking on the Adult Social Care Commissioning role in Gloucestershire County Council's cabinet.

Council leader Mark Hawthorne has confirmed that Carole Allaway-Martin, councillor for Coleford, will take up her new role on January 15.

Councillor Allaway-Martin has been chair of the health scrutiny committee since May 2017 and will chair her final meeting on January 14 before taking her new role.

A new chair of the committee will be appointed at the next full council meeting on February 12.

Before becoming a councillor in May 2017, Cllr Allaway-Martin worked for the NHS in a number of roles.

She was a ward sister at Coney Hill Hospital and a staff nurse on the surgical ward at Cheltenham General Hospital before finishing her career as a community psychiatric nurse in the Forest of Dean.

She has also held academic positions at the University of West of England and University of Westminster.

Cllr Allaway-Martin said: "It is a great privilege to have been appointed to the Cabinet.

"I have a strong background in the health and social care arena and I will draw on this experience to ensure we provide the best possible services, advice and support for communities across the county.

"It has been an immense pleasure to chair the Health and Care Scrutiny Committee for the past two and half years and I would like to thank committee members and officers for their hard work, commitment and support during my time as chair."

Leader of the council, Mark Hawthorne said: "It is a great pleasure to welcome Carole to the Cabinet.

"With her extensive experience and knowledge in the field, Carole is ideally placed to ensure we go on delivering the best possible services for those in the county who need our help and support."

Cllr Allaway-Martin's appointment comes following the death of Cllr Roger Wilson in December last year, following a short illness.