East Devon District Council has confirmed that the seven vacancies at Honiton Town Council will go to election rather than co-option.

The decision comes after the Monitoring Officer at East Devon District Council (EDDC) received the required number of written requests from Honiton residents - 10 in both St Paul's Ward and St Michael's Ward - asking for an election to decide who fills the seats at Honiton Town Council (HTC).

This means HTC is not able to use the co-option process - where candidates can be voted in by the council alone - to draft in new members.

An election will now take place - giving residents an opportunity to vote for anyone standing - which due to Covid-19 restrictions is postponed until May 6, 2021.

There are currently seven vacancies at HTC - three in St Paul's Ward and four in St Michael's - following a string of resignations this year.

Councillor Jason Hannay resigned on May 11, joining his brother Nathan Hannay who resigned earlier this year.

Former deputy mayor Duncan Sheridan-Shaw resigned on April 27.

James Wyatt quit at beginning of June, with Ray Hanratty and Terry Darrant handing in their resignations two days later.

The council is currently operating with the bare minimum of 10 members; due the pandemic no meetings have been held since March.