A Bushey councillor says he feels likes he's been "punched in the stomach" by his party after he was not reselected to stand in this year's election.

Leslie Winters has represented Bushey North on Hertsmere Borough Council for the last four years after being elected in 2011 with 841 votes.

The next election will be held on May 7, where all councillors will be elected for a four-year-term - unlike previous years where a third of councillors were elected in one go.

Cllr Winters said: "I was very upset when they told me and felt betrayed - it was like I had been punched in the stomach. But what hurt the most is they are not telling me why I was not reselected.

"I care about the residents, not just in my ward, but this village. I have worked hard and built up a rapport and don't want to lose it."

Cllr Winters, who has been a associated with the Conservative party for 30 years, will now be standing as an independent councillor. But he is not the only councillor, who has not been reselected to stand this year by the party.

A change in the authority's constitution means all 39 seats will be contested, so councillors who were elected last year or the year before will also be up for election.

Long-standing Hertsmere councillors, Rosemary Gilligan, who represents Shenley, Pat Strack, Clive Butchins and Sandra Parnell, all for Borehamwood, were not picked either, as well as Aldenham West councillor Daniel Griffin, who stood down earlier this year and Potters Bar Oakmere councillor Robert Calcutt.

Cllr Winters, who has been a councillor on three authorities including Hertsmere for 22 years, added: "I enjoy doing this, I live for it. I didn't expect this at all - I thought the interview went well, but now they want to put two people in who residents don't know.

"I've had an overwhelming support from the residents, some of who live outside of my ward - they were flabbergasted when they heard the news.

"The party offered me to stand down with immediate effect, which I know Dan Griffin took, but I refused. It's taken me a while to get my head around it but I will be standing again as an independent councillor.

"We are not really political as councillors. It's about the person the residents know, who can help them with any issues they face."

Residents will get two or three votes each, depending on the ward, whereas previously, only a third of the councillors would have contested their seat each year for three years, with no elections in the fourth year.

John Graham, the chairman of the executive council overseeing the reselection process, said: "In preparing ourselves for the first regular set of all-out elections in Hertsmere, the Hertsmere Conservative Association has been undertaking a process of candidate interviews and selections.

"We have been astounded by the interest and response with nearly 50 eligible candidates vying for the 39 seats available. We have ensured that the selection process is equitable with all candidates subject to the same process and asked the same questions.

"In making their final selection the committee have had some difficult decisions to make and certainly with such competition there will always be disappointed people.

"But we believe we have selected the best people to take the authority forward over the next four years.

"There is no slight intended on any member who has not been reselected and naturally we hope they will all continue to remain involved with the Conservatives in Hertsmere in other ways."

Wayne Thomas, known as Taff, who has been supporting cllr Winters, will also be running as an independent councillor for Bushey North.

Mr Thomas, who narrowly missed out last year, said: "Here you have a man, who has been there and worked really hard, and has a chance of retaining his seat - it's unbelievable.

"But between us we have a blend of experience in political and public service, and together we can properly represent the people of Bushey North."