CORNWALL councillor for Callington Andrew Long is quitting his job to concentrate solely on his council work.

Mr Long, who has worked for Weatherheads Shop Designers in Plymouth ever since he left school 26 years ago, said he could no longer do both jobs because of the time involved in being a Cornwall councillor.

He praised his employers who he said had been 'brilliant' to him since he became a district councillor in 2007. Mr Long has also been a town councillor in Callington for several years.

'It became very apparent to me in the first six months of Cornwall Council that a councillor's responsibility was in effect full-time, because there is so much to deal with,' he said. 'Every department is now run by this one council from housing and planning to adult social care and disability. We have a daily responsibility for all our residents and I was finding myself working 90 hours a week.'

The Mebyon Kernow councillor, who is leaving his Plymouth job on March 31, said his standard of living would be poorer but his quality of life would be better.

'Being a councillor is what I want to do. I made a decision to stand for election because I believe in the people of Callington. Now I will be devoting my time to them.'