Residents in Topsham will go to the polls twice in December after an Exeter city councillor has resigned from her role.
Conservative Catherine Pierce was first elected to the authority in 2018.
But this morning (Thursday) it was announced that she had quit and stepped down from the council.
No reason for her resignation has been given.
Two letters of intent now need to be submitted to Exeter City Council to formally trigger a by-election.
If, as expected, this happens, the by-election would take place on Thursday, December 12 – the same day as the upcoming general election.
Topsham has only returned Conservative representatives in the 21st century; in May’s election, Councillor Rob Newby held onto his seat in the ward with 47 per cent of the vote.
Catherine pierce’s resignation means that the composition of the council currently stands as: Labour (29); Conservative (five); Liberal Democrat (two); Green Party (one); Independent (one); and vacant (one).
Details as to when candidates must be nominated by have not yet been announced.
