Spelthorne by-election set as councillor resigns

Conservative councillor Olivia Rybinski has stepped down from her role

A by-election is set to be held in Surrey in June after a councillor who recently moved to Cornwall announced her decision to stand down.

Olivia Rybinski, a Conservative councillor for the Ashford Town ward on Spelthorne Borough Council, said she needed "to focus on [her] expanding family" after recently announcing she was expecting her third child.

She said the lack of any maternity leave for councillors, left her with "no choice but to resign", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

John Boughtflower, leader of the Conservative group, said Rybinski was an "outstanding councillor" who would be "hugely missed".

Spelthorne Borough Council said if there were multiple candidates for the Ashford Town borough ward, voters could take to the polls between 07:00 and 22:00 BST on 19 June.

Applications to register to vote must be received by 3 June, the council said.