THE Liberal Democrats could restore their position as the largest political group on West Devon Borough Council if they can win the seat vacated following the resignation of Cllr Diana Moyse.
Conservative Ms Moyse, who represented the Lydford and Dartmoor Forest ward — one of the largest in the country — issued a letter of resignation to the Council last Friday.
The Liberal Democrats will be fighting to regain the position of largest single party which they enjoyed prior to the local elections in 1999.
An election must now take place on July 11 to decide who replaces Cllr Moyse on the borough council.
The deadline for submission of nomination papers for the seat is noon tomorrow (Friday).
Both the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives have eight councillors each on the council, while there are 13 Independent councillors.
The Conservative group, which last year lost Cllr Caroline Keane when she became an Independent, will want to hold onto the ward to maintain numerical advantage.
Cllr Dick Eberlie, leader of the Conservative group, said Ms Moyse had resigned from the borough council for personal reasons.
Cllr Eberlie said: 'It is a matter for enormous regret. We are very sorry to lose her.
'She has been very actively involved in lots of different areas, working closely with the National Park and West Devon Homes. The whole council really shall miss her a great deal.'
Ms Moyse, who lives in Lydford, was elected in May 1999.
Her successor will have less than a year in office, before having to defend the seat at full borough council elections next May.