LYME Regis residents will have an unelected town council after only ten candidates came forward to fill the 14 places on the authority.

Nine members of the current council will leave their roles next month, including Mayor Sally Holman and three chairmen of the council’s committees.

John Broom, Michaela Ellis, Derek Hallett, Patrick Hicks, Sean Larcombe, Owen Lovell, Cheryl Reynolds, Daryl Turner, Anita Williams and Stan Williams will make up the new unelected council.

Mayor Sally Holman said she had always intended to retire after the four year period - and is looking forward to spending more time with her family.

Speaking at last week's annual town meeting, she said: "The organisation is now truly a 21st century council - a credit to councillors and staff over the last four years.

"Lyme Regis has gained an increasingly beneficial reputation as a tourist destination due to the joint efforts of the council, the business community and many valuable volunteers.

"It was never my intention to stand for council beyond four years that I committed myself to.

"I have other things to do in my life. I have very much enjoyed working with the present council. I shall miss it, but it's time to give my family and my sailing interests more time and attention."

The mayor paid tribute to the councillors standing down from their positions, who she said have 'have done an enormous amount for the town'.

Sally Holman praised Rikey Austin, Ann Bradbury, Lucy Campbell, Chris Clipson, Mark Gage, Lorna Jenkin and Terry O’Grady for their work over the last four years.

Chairman of the strategy and policy committee, Cllr Gage, said it was a 'dreadful shame' that only ten people have come forward to be appointed councillors - and hit out at the town's 'unhealthy obsession with being local' and criticism of the council.

In his address at last week's annual town meeting, Cllr Gage explained that persistent criticism had impacted his family's life and that he made up his mind to stand down 18 months ago.

"I do believe that the vast majority of complaints made against the council have been done in a concerted effort to undermine the work of the council" he said. "Whenever you throw stones at someone, those stones often bounce off and hit the ones nearest and dearest to them.

"I do think this obsession with being local is unhealthy. I'd go as far as to say it's verging on racism. I've got broad shoulders, but I am disappointed by the effect a lot of the personal comments I have received have had on my family."

The appointed councillors may fill the four outstanding vacancies by co-option or they may decide to carry on as a group of ten.