OKEHAMPTON town clerk John Winchester is leaving his post after four years to join Dawlish Town Council.

Mr Winchester will take on his role as clerk to Dawlish Town Council at the end of October.

Formerly in the military police, the 53-year-old ran a shop and post office in Somerset before coming to Okehampton.

He said he had enjoyed his first job as a town clerk and was fortunate to be involved in local government at a time when it was going through the biggest changes in 100 years.

Okehampton Town Council is among the first authorities in the country to put together a Performance Plan which states its aims and commitment over the next five years to improve services and the quality of life for people living in the parish.

?It?s been a very exciting time and one of the key points has been the development of a working partnership between the town, district and county councils,? he said.

?If the council sticks to its performance plan it will be years ahead of just about every other authority in the country.?

Mr Winchester, who lives in Exeter, said the post at Dawlish was ?too good an opportunity to miss?.

?Having said that, I will miss Okehampton a lot ? I have enjoyed working with the councillors, and the people of the town are lovely,? he said.

Okehampton mayor and chairman of the council Christine Marsh said the clerk had helped the council through a difficult time and made members more aware of their obligations.

?John is very good with rules and regulations and he has helped us tremendously with procedures and the way that councils work,? she said.

?I wish him very well and hope that the new town he is going to work for proves to be just what he is looking for.?