MUM'S the word according to Thurrock Council chief executive Lyn Carpenter who is urging members of the council to carry out acts of kindness in 'local government land'.

Ms Carpenter took to social media to highlight the importance of caring and ensuring others are looked after and she told how her mum was the inspiration for her.

She said: "Recent matters of the impact of negative social media/press etc really bother me.

"The best leadership lessons I have learnt I have done so from my mum who was a fierce but loyal Yorkshire woman.

"Mum said: 'If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all' as well as 'if you can't say something to someone's face then keep your message to yourself.'

"Two lessons very apt in today's negative world.

"I have 2,700 officers in my organisation, if each one of us does one act of kindness a day, in just a year we will have done 1,000,000 kind acts. A million! At no cost.

"Yet invaluable and a huge impact in helping others.

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"Just think of how many acts of kindness we could all achieve just in local government land.

"Think about it. Act. Be kind. Priceless."