FORMER Blackbird Leys councillor Val Smith is being cared for in Sobell House Hospice after a long battle with cancer.

Mrs Smith, married to Oxford East parliamentary candidate Andrew Smith, was a city councillor for 24 years and a county councillor for eight.

After being treated for cancer for some time, she resigned in September as the disease became more aggressive.

Since then she has spent several months in the John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington.

Yesterday Mr Smith’s office revealed that his wife had been moved to Sobell House, which provides palliative care for patients with terminal illnesses.

The Labour Party in Oxford East said Mr Smith was stepping off the campaign trail ahead of the General Election on May 7 to be with her.

Campaign agent Emma Bausch said: “As many people know, Andrew’s wife Val has been seriously ill with cancer. After more than two months in the JR, Val is now being cared for at Sobell House hospice.

“Andrew will be making sure they have the time they need together. The local Labour campaign to re-elect Andrew will continue.

“Our thoughts are with Val and Andrew and their family at this difficult time.”

Labour Oxford City Council leader Bob Price said: “Everyone who knows Val is profoundly sad to hear that she has been transferred to Sobell House.”

Fellow councillor John Tanner said: “It is all so unbearably sad. We have missed Val hugely since she resigned from the city and county councils because of her illness.

“I hope Andrew will take some comfort from the hundreds of people across Oxford who are asking after Val and expressing their personal support for him.

“They have many friends who are thinking of them.”

After Mrs Smith resigned, Labour’s Steve Curran was chosen in a by-election for the county council seat in the Leys division, and Linda Smith kept Labour’s hold of the Blackbird Leys city council seat.

Mrs Smith lives on the Blackbird Leys estate with Mr Smith and is mother to Luke and grandmother to Mirai.

She first became a city councillor for Blackbird Leys in 1987, but stood down in 2005 for three years after becoming frustrated with the city council’s lack of power.

When she resigned from the city council, she joined the county council and represented The Leys.

In 27 years representing the people of Blackbird Leys, Mrs Smith also served as Lord Mayor of Oxford and as the county council’s vicechairwoman.