Residents in the West ward will go to the polls tomorrow (October 8) to fill a vacancy on Sidmouth Town Council.

Deirdre Hounsom and Matt Booth are vying for the position and to stand alongside councillors Louise Cole and John Rayson.

Mrs Hounsom is a qualified coach, a speaker, a charity trustee and a retired company director.

She moved to Sidmouth in 2007 and said she is standing as a truly independent candidate with no affiliations to any group or political party.

If elected, she said she will serve the community to ensure that Sidmouth is not spoilt by over-development.

Mr Booth said he would like to see the town council ‘engaging more directly with district and county authorities in order to lobby for longer-term benefits for the town’.

He added that he would promote engagement with groups and businesses across the community, and across different generations.

Residents of the West ward can vote at St Francis Church Hall from 7am to 10pm.