Popular member of the Honiton community, Duncan Sheridan-Shaw has this evening (April 27) announced that he is stepping down from his elected position at Honiton Town Council.

In a moving letter addressed to 'friends, supporters, councillors and members of the press' he cited various reasons for his 'heartbreaking' decision to resign; adding reassurance that he will continue to serve the community he cares so deeply about.

Duncan wrote: "It is with a very heavy heart that I have found myself into a position of having to tender my resignation as elected member of Honiton Town Council.

"I have come to this decision through much soul searching and long, late talks with those who really matter and make a difference.

"It is very apparent to me that me that my way of addressing matters, dealing with situations and otherwise seeing things is in opposition to leading members of the current town council.

"This has caused far too much unnecessary and divisive upset; meetings that go and back and forth and far too many negative situations than are good for any decent human soul to deal with.

"It breaks my heart to have to have made this choice, to let down so many, to disappoint those who put so much faith in me.

"However, the swathe of negativity and harassment faced is far too much for me to deal with and the invasive nature of these actions on my professional, personal and now family and loved ones has become an egregious and infectious invasion.

"The constant worry of legal action, intrusive personal threats and damage to reputation that one has had to endure over the last year has been devastating for my mental health.

"I'm a modernist; I believe in fluid democracy and a huge sense of community before anything else; a sense of training, hard work and forward facing momentum.

"I believe in breaking barriers, smashing moulds and pushing limits to be able to deliver a warm, friendly and vibrant environment which embraces diversity and equality.

"So to that end, it is my belief and my belief alone, that I cannot continue to thrive and expand under the restrains I find myself in under the current leadership structure of Honiton Town Council.

"It is my most sincere hope that you will all continue to allow me to participate, support and otherwise promote the groups and societies outside of HTC and associations that you all represent - I still believe wholeheartedly that we can achieve great, great things as a positive loving and accepting community.

"If you grant me, I humbly seek to continue my directorships, my trustee duties and my membership to all committees on which I currently sit - if these are positions that I hold under the auspices of Honiton Town Council then I humbly seek to join your groups as an individual citizen.

"I believe in Honiton, I believe in the great citizens who chose to call Honiton home and I believe in this community.

"I extend my thanks and great appreciation to the staff of Honiton Town Council for all their commitment and strength against adversity."