Young Aberdeen councillor John West to quit politics to travel

John West was 18 years old when he was elected to the council

An Aberdeen councillor who was appointed the city's depute provost aged just 18 is to quit politics.

The SNP's John West became Scotland's youngest councillor when he was elected in 2007.

He has announced he is to stand down at the election in May and intends to go travelling before deciding whether to resume his political career.

In 2008 Mr West had his civic duties scaled back as he was returning to university.