A WITNEY town and district Conservative councillor has stepped down to move with her family to Dorset.

Sian Davies’s decision has triggered byelections in May for her Witney East ward seats on Witney Town Council and West Oxfordshire District Council.

She said: “My husband has changed companies and is working as a commercial pilot out of Bournemouth.

“He has been going there for six months, which has meant we haven’t seen a great deal of him.

“We thought it was about time the family got back together. We have got a four-and-a-half-year-old daughter and she’s missing having her dad around.”

Mrs Davies added: “I’m really disappointed to be leaving it behind, particularly with all the residents I have had dealings with over the past couple of years.

“It has been really nice to get to know people locally.”

She said she may consider standing for the council in her new home of Verwood, Dorset, once she has got to know the area.

Both byelections to fill the vacant seats will be held on Thursday, May 2, the same day elections for Oxfordshire County Council take place.

People wishing to stand for elections need to contact the returning office at West Oxfordshire District Council’s Woodgreen offices before Friday, April 5.