Babergh will look at granting an extension to residents in the parish of Shotley to submit nomination forms after only two councillors put their names forward in time.

Current Shotley parish council chairman Richard Wrinch and councillor Tony Ingram were duly elected without the need for an election on May 4.

However, as they were the only two to put their names forward it meant the parish council would not be quorate (so unable to make decisions legally) after May 8 where current councillors will formally stand down.

Parish clerk Dina Bedwell has applied to Babergh to trigger Section 91 of the Local Government Act 1972, where the local authority "may by order appoint persons to fill all or any of the vacancies until other councillors are elected and take up office".

Richard Wrinch, maureen Williams, Jane Gardner and Derek Davis (Picture: Shaun Sams)

It is known some of the current councillors will be seeking to stand again and the new dates for nominations will be made after the May 4 election, when the returning officer will announce details of a re-election.

Meanwhile, a number of current councillors have already indicated they will not be standing again.

These include: Maureen Williams, Rob Green, Craig Mills, Jeanette Briscoe and Sarah Pallant.

Meanwhile, Brantham parish council election on May 4 will be uncontested and they have a vacancy for ne more councillor.

Anyone interested should go to the Brantham PC website page here for more details.