The Mayor of Budleigh has reiterated calls for more people to put themselves forward as town councillors.

An election for Budleigh Salterton Town Council has not been held for 20 years, because whenever a vote has been due to be held not enough people have stood, meaning candidates have been accepted automatically.

The next date when an election is due to be held is in May, but town mayor Caz Sismore-Hunt fears it will be uncontested once again unless more people come forward.

She said: “The town council only meets twice a month – it’s a commitment for two evenings a month.

“If we don’t get more people standing, we are going to have the same people we have got now. There’s been no election for 20 years.

“To get a good mixture, we could do with about six to eight new people standing so the town can choose who they want.

“I might be cutting my own throat, but if that’s the case so be it.”

Nominations for the election, scheduled for May 7, 2015, must be made between March 31 and April 9, to the Elections Office at East Devon District Council’s Knowle headquarters in Sidmouth.