A BY-ELECTION will be held to fill the vacancy on Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council following the resignation of farmer John Hodge.

More than 10 electors have petitioned the returning officer for West Devon for a by-election which will be held on February 15 if two or more candidates submit nomination papers. This is the same day as the by-election for Okehampton Town Council.

A Notice of Election will be published today (Thursday) and from then on candidates will have until noon on January 19 to submit their nominations.

Nominations packs are available from the Returning Officer, West Devon Borough Council, Kilworthy Park, Tavistock, Devon.

If anyone is interested in becoming a parish councillor and would like to know more about the role, they can contact Mr A Gammon, the clerk to Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council on 01837 55576.

John Hodge, who had been a councillor for around 10 years, resigned through pressure of work and other commitments which include being chairman of Dartmoor Commoners.

Council member Leonard Heard said Mr Hodge had been a great asset because of his vast amount of knowledge about agriculture and Dartmoor.

'He has been connected with Ten Tors, the Beating of the Bounds and belongs to so many committees that we have always been kept up-to- date on many issues,' he said.