North Herefordshire Green MP steps down from council and party group role

Green MP Ellie Chowns has formally stepped down as both a county councillor and leader of her party on the council.

The North Herefordshire MP's move has triggered a byelection in her Bishops Frome and Cradley ward which will be held on 4 November.

Herefordshire Council has not yet said when nominations to stand in the election are to be received. Leadership of the nine-strong Green group now rests with Diana Toynbee.

The Green Party overturned a Conservative majority of almost 25,000 to take North Herefordshire in July's general election.

Toynbee said she was delighted to take over as leader.

She said her party would continue to press the county's minority Conservative administration to invest in social housing and in public and "active" transport.

Clare Davies, who represents Bromyard West, has become leader of the True Independents group, now reduced to two after the death of its long-time leader Bob Matthews in June.

The byelection to select Matthews' successor in Credenhill ward, northwest of Hereford, is being held on 26 September.

A parish ward election in Ross-on-Wye North is also scheduled for 7 November.