A BY-ELECTION looks likely to be called after a Barrow councillor resigned from her post due to new work commitments.

Labour member Lesley Graham has stepped down from Barrow Borough Council to enable her to take up a new job as the public health locality manager for Barrow.

Cllr Graham was part of the executive committee, spokeswoman for health and wellbeing, and represented Risedale ward on the council.

She was re-elected for a second term in the full council elections in May, when she got 1,310 votes and was part of a Labour clean-sweep of the ward, winning along with Hayley Preston and Kevin Hamilton.

Cllr Graham said: "Due to the pressures of my new job as public health locality manager for Barrow, it is necessary that I resign as a councillor.

"It is completely the right thing to do as I could not devote the time to my councillor role.

"It isn't fair of me to carry on, when I know in my heart that I wouldn't be able to give the time that civic duty requires.

"As a councillor, I have learned so much. It comes with huge responsibility and we often have to make very difficult decisions.

"I can take a lot of this learning into my new job. It gives me an added dimension which is always a good thing.

"I will be working to improve health, wellbeing and quality of life outcomes for the whole of the area.

"There is a big focus on partnership working and communities, so in some respects it is similar to my health and wellbeing portfolio holder role on the borough council.

"So I will still be working hard for our town and still working alongside many councillors and partner agencies - albeit wearing a different hat."

The council has issued a "casual vacancy" notice and the required two electors from within the borough have indicated a by-election should take place.

If more than one candidate chooses to stand, the election would be held on October 29. It is estimated the election would cost £4,000 to £5,000.