THERE is to be a by-election in Worcester next month after a leading councillor quit the city for New Zealand.

Former mayor Ian Imray has formerly resigned as councillor of St Clement ward and a by-election will take place on Thursday, September 20.

The Labour candidate will be Jenny Barnes, a mother-of-four who lives in Bromyard Road.

Leader of the Labour group Councillor Adrian Gregson said they will be raising issues such as parking, weekly food waste collections, anti social behaviour and facilities for young people.

Sue Askin, leader of Worcester's Liberal Democrat group, revealed that they were putting someone forward but had not yet chosen who.

No-one from the Conservatives was available to tell your Worcester News who their candidate is.

Mr Imray announced he was emigrating in July, just three months after he was re-elected, much to the annoyance of the Labour party who said the Conservative councillor should not have stood for election if he was planning on leaving.

Mr Imray, whose two sons live in New Zealand, applied to emigrate back in February, but kept it secret until it was accepted.

Just before he left yesterday, he said: "Looking out of the window at this weather, I'm really looking forward to getting there."

Anyone who wants to stand in the election must deliver nomination papers to the Worcester City Council returning officer John Scarborough by noon on Thursday, August 23.

Residents who want to vote by post need to apply to do so by Wednesday, September 5.