A by-election could affect the balance of power on Mendip District Council.

Maxine Oxford's resignation means the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats each have 22 councillors – and the Independents two.

She represented the Ashwick, Chilcompton and Stratton ward. Villages in the ward include Binegar, Gurney Slade, Ashwick, Oakhill, Nettlebridge, Stratton-on-the-Fosse and Chilcompton.

Conservative councillor Mrs Oxford was elected in 1997, and resigned after she moved out of the district and was unable to attend any council meetings within the last six months.

According to local government rules this means that she can no longer remain as a councillor. A provisional election date has been booked for Thursday, October 21, although this will be confirmed at a later date.

There is information on the Mendip council website about how to become a councillor, and the criteria that needs to be met to become a candidate.

For more details visit www.mendip. gov.uk and type "becoming a councillor" in the search box.

To stand for election at a district council, a person needs to be at least 18 years of age on the day of nomination, a British subject or citizen of the Irish Republic or a citizen of a member state of the European Union or Commonwealth country and a resident in the UK and either on the electoral register for the Mendip district, or have lived or worked in the district for at least the last 12 months.

They must also meet at least one of these four criteria: they must be registered to vote in the elections for Mendip District Council on the day they are nominated and on the day of the election and remain registered thereafter for at least 12 months continuously up to the day of their nomination and the election; live in Mendip; own or rent either land or premises in Mendip; or work in Mendip. To find out more about the vacancy or for more details about becoming a councillor, contact Mendip's election team on 01749 648999.