ALEX Folkes has tendered his resignation to both Launceston Town Council and Cornwall Council, for health reasons.

Mr Folkes has been a Launceston town councillor since 2009, serving the Launceston Central Ward, and was the portfolio holder for finance and resources on Cornwall Council, in charge of the council’s budget until last year.

He resigned from this role shortly before it was announced he was the subject of an investigation by Cornwall Council after the authority said it had received information raising child protection concerns relating to him.

Mr Folkes stated on his blog that in 2006, before he was a councillor, he was arrested after being linked by his debit or credit card to a website containing indecent images of children. But he said his card had been cloned and no charges were brought against him.

The council contacted groups in the Launceston area, telling them that Mr Folkes was a ‘serious and enduring risk to children’.

At the time, Mr Folkes claimed there had been a ‘concerted campaign’ against him. He has always strongly denied the allegations.

He continued as a Cornwall councillor for Launceston, and a town councillor until he confirmed his resignation from both bodies at the beginning of this week.

Mr Folkes told the Post: “Since the horrendous (and utterly false) allegations were made against me last year, I have been battling with significant mental health issues.

“Although I have done nothing illegal nor contrary to the council’s code of conduct, I have not behaved in a way that the people of Launceston and Cornwall have a right to expect and I am therefore resigning.”

Mr Folkes said the decision had been a ‘wrench’ and ‘not an easy decision’, but he acknowledged that he was getting professional help for his illness.

He paid tribute to his colleagues on the two councils, adding: “I’m incredibly grateful to the officers and members of the councils I have served on who are truly dedicated public servants in very trying circumstances.

“I hope that I have contributed something and am sad that I won’t be able to in the future.”

A Cornwall Council spokesman said: “The council’s monitoring officer has received confirmation of the resignation of Alex Folkes as councillor from both Launceston Town Council and Cornwall Council. The necessary arrangements will now be made to fill the vacancies created by his resignation and details will be published in the usual way in due course.”

l Mr Folkes’ resignation from?Launceston?Town Council now means there are three vacant seats on the 16-strong body. The other two vacancies were caused by the death last month of Graham Facks-Martin and the resignation of Ashley?Crapp, who left to study at university in?Bath.