A BY-ELECTION is set to be held for a position on Dorset Council after a councillor resigned.

Dorset Council has confirmed that following the resignation of Lyme and Charmouth councillor, Daryl Turner, it has received the required signatories to call a by-election to replace him.

A Notice of Election was published by the council yesterday - and a poll is expected to take place on Thursday, April 7.

Nominations for candidates for the Lyme and Charmouth ward are to close on Friday, March 11 at 4pm.

Applications to register to vote in the election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by midnight on Tuesday, March 22

More details about the election have been published on the Dorset Council website.

Mr Turner, who had represented the ward as a Conservative, was elected following elections in May 2019. He had previously served on both Dorset County Council and West Dorset District Council and had important roles on the authorities.

The news of his resignation was revealed in an open letter in which he cited a number of reasons for his departure, including the council's decision to again increase council tax, as well his move from Lyme Regis to Wales.

He also launched an attack on the Tory leadership at the council, making reference to alleged remarks at a meeting last year that he said were made by council leader, Cllr Spencer Flower.

He had made a formal complaint but it was not pursued.

Cllr Flower was said to have had no recollection of making the remark complained about but apologised to Mr Turner.