Voters in central Watford will return to the polls to elect a new councillor after the resignation of their current representative.

Councillor Sheila Smillie, the Liberal Democrat representative for the Central Ward, resigned from Watford Borough Council yesterday.

Mrs Smillie, first elected in 1993, has been living in Florida for the past couple of months, where she and her husband are considering starting a new life.

Council colleague Councillor Rabi Martins said: “She had a reputation of being a very good councillor. She always kept up with and followed through her case work very diligently.”

A by election is likely to be called in the coming weeks.