SIR - I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who put a cross by my name in last Thursday’s district elections. I was hopeful of gaining a seat, but I was overwhelmed by the final result.

I spoke to hundreds of people during the weeks leading up to the election and learnt a lot about the various issues and concerns in individual villages, as well as what people value in a district councillor.

A higher percentage of people in the Ottery St Mary Rural ward cast their vote than anywhere else in East Devon – a huge 62.3 per cent of the electorate! I feel very fortunate to represent an area where so many people are interested in local issues.

The knowledge I gained from talking to people will stand me in good stead for representing their views at The Knowle.

Claire Wright

East Devon District Councillor,

Ottery St Mary Rural Ward