The Town Mayor of Newhaven, Councillor David Fitton, has had a suspected heart attack while on holiday in France.
The mayor and mayoress were taking a short break when the councillor collapsed after suffering chest pains.
Their three children yesterday left Newhaven on the fast ferry to be with their mother, Pat, and father in Rouen.
Tonight's Newhaven Town Council finance and general purposes and planning committee meetings have been cancelled.
The mayor is the former head of horticulture at Plumpton College and has retained close links with the college.
He lectures on horticulture and has been keen to ensure the town made an impact in the South-East In Bloom competition. He was chairman of the successful Newhaven in Bloom.
Newhaven town councillor Jo Lewry, who is a close family friend, said: "I have spoken to Pat and she feels very isolated in France as the hospital is a long way from where they were staying."
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