EAST Meon Parish Council chairman has stepped down.

Councillor Alan Redpath told his colleagues at the council meeting on January 23, he was resigning from the council with immediate effect, and thanked them and the council clerk for their support during his 14-year term.

The meeting in East Meon Church Hall then elected Cllr Susan Davenport chairman, and Cllr Richard Bartlett as deputy chairman.

Cllr Davenport said she would inform the council of the process regarding replacing Mr Redpath as councillor.