NEWTON Abbot's deputy mayor Joanne Avery is not seeking re-election to the town council at the May 5 elections.

Cllr Avery, a Liberal Democrat, was appointed to the town council in 2003 in Bushell Ward, but as a young mum she has decided to step down in favour of family commitments.

Her mother, Cllr Anne Fry, a Lib Dem who is also a Devon county and Teignbridge councillor, has been a member of Bradley Ward for 11 years and is looking to regain her seat.

She is one of five standing for four places with her opponents Mike Hocking (Lib Dem), Mary Kudi (Con), Liz Roberts (Con) and Daphne Watts (Lib Dem).

Michael Hocking and Daphne Watts are also seeking re-election.

At Bovey Tracey there are 15 candidates standing for a dozen vacancies on the town council, though two of those missing are Alan Griesiell (after six years service) and Mike Harper (four years).

There would have been 17 in the field, but Shahar Lashkor's nomination paper was invalid, as was Tina Richardson's, but the latter was correctly re-submitted in time.

A third, Lisa Robillard Webb (Lab) had not given consent to her nomination.

At Bovey Tracey's Heathfield parish ward, former mayor Michelle Davey and Kelly Westbury are both standing down.

It is virtually all change in Chudleigh where there are 13 seats but only ten candidates. Seven councillors – Geoff Day, Chris Webb, Mike Moyse, Kevin Pullen, Bernard Kelly, Nicky Bustin and Kevin Fuller – are not putting up this time.

In Kingsteignton East, Edna Wickham has retired and five candidates are returned unopposed for the seven available seats.

There are 13 candidates chasing 12 seats on Ashburton Town Council and 12 candidates after 11 places on Bishopsteignton Parish Council.

Three candidates withdrew their nominations on Thursday last week – Colin Victor Gibbs in Doddiscombsleigh, Tim Boarer in Haccombe-with-Coombe Urban, and Margaret Ann Jones in Tedburn St Mary.