Voters will go to the polls next month in a by-election after a long-serving councillor’s resignation.

Les Hamilton, who represented South Portslade for more than 50 years, stood down as a councillor last month.

Mr Hamilton said: “It has been a tremendous honour to be able to make a difference for local people.

“Over the last 52 years, I’ve served as a councillor under the former Portslade Urban District Council, Hove Borough Council and now Brighton and Hove City Council.

“I was part of the first Labour administration on Hove Council in the 1990s and was proud to serve as mayor.

“As residents in my ward will know, I am a staunch champion of Portslade, where I have lived for over 75 years.

“Age has now caught up with me and tells me it’s time to slow down and give up being a councillor.”

Council leader Bella Sankey paid tribute to Mr Hamilton’s record of public service and said he had been a “stalwart campaigner for Portslade over many years and has made a huge contribution to the city as a councillor, committee member and mayor.”

The by-election will be held on Thursday, January 11.

To vote, residents must be registered by December 21, be aged 18 or over on polling day and be a British, Irish or EU citizen or a citizen of a Commonwealth country.

People can register to vote at gov.uk/register-to-vote.