A long serving county councillor will not be seeking reelection when the Shotley peninsula goes to the polls again in May.

David Wood, who has served as Suffolk County Council's Peninsula Ward member for the past 21 years, has also served as a Babergh District Councillor and been a Tattingstone Parish councillor and its chairman.

Cllr Wood confirmed he would be sticking to a promise he made his late wife in 2017 and will be looking to spend more time as a volunteer.

"It is a decision that I made after the last election," said Cllr Wood. "I made a promise to my late wife Rita that it would be the last election I would contest and it is a promise I intend to keep.

"It seems an age ago that I was elected to represent you all back in early 2000 and I would like to thank you all for the welcome and support you have given me."

As part of his county council portfolio, Cllr Wood was also the chairman of the the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB has alsoMy successes and failures are too numerous to list here but perhaps the achievement that I am really proud of is the extension we obtained to Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty it is also the project that took

the greatest amount of time to complete some 21 years."

The AONB has recognised his dedication and hard work by launching the "David Wood National Landscape Award", an award that will be presented annually to recognise volunteer contribution. (Full story here...).

Cllr Wood added: "I will not be disappearing completely as I intend to pursue some volunteering opportunities that may/will come my way in the not too distant future and hopefully these will keep me in contact with the happenings on the Peninsula.

"So whoever is successful in succeeding me at the next election I hope you will give them the same welcome that you have all afforded me."

Cllr Wood stood as a Liberal Democrat and his party has not yet named any prospective candidate to replace him.

Meanwhile, Alastair McCraw has indicated he is looking to stand as an Independent councillor. Cllr McCraw is currently Babergh district councillor for the Brantham ward. He is the chair of the overview and scrutiny committee and is also chairman of Brantham Parish Council.

Elections for Suffolk County Council, along with other vacant parish and town council seats in the county are planned for May 6. Cabinet Office minister Chloe Smith today confirmed they will go ahead, arguing "democracy should not be cancelled because of Covid".

As well as being asked to bring their own pen or paper to mark their ballots, those voting in a polling station will have to wear a mask.

Candidates are also being asked not to give voters a lift to polling stations in their cars - a common practice at election time.