BUDE-STRATTON Town Council will fill the vacancy left by departing member Christopher Couch by co-option in February.

Cllr Couch, who represented the Stratton Ward, lost his seat as he failed to attend any meetings within a six-month period, mayor Frank Partridge confirmed last month.

The returning officer of Cornwall Council has confirmed that the regulation ten requests from electors had not been fulfilled, and the town council could now fill the casual vacancy by co-option. This will happen at its meeting on Thursday, February 5 at 7pm in the Council Conference Room at the Parkhouse Centre.

In a statement, the town council said: 'Those who are interested in serving the community in this way and want to become a candidate for co-option should obtain an application form from the town clerk.

'The form is also available on the Bude-Stratton Town Council website, http://www.bude-stratton.gov.uk">www.bude-stratton.gov.uk Completed applications must be returned to the town clerk by noon on Friday, January 30.

'If applicants wish to do so they can attend the meeting on February 5 and make a short (three to five minutes) personal statement giving the reasons for being interested in joining the town council and what particular set of skills and experience they feel they can bring to the role.'

There are 18 seats in total on Bude-Stratton Town Council.

For the full report, and a round-up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the Post.