A Herfordshire county councillor for Watford has quit her seat, citing personal reasons that have made it “impossible to carry on”.

Liberal Democrat, Audrey Oaten, handed in her resignation this morning after representing the division of Tudor and Meriden for close to 10 years.

Speaking to the Watford Observer she said: “It is for personal reasons, nothing to do with any political feeling or anything like that.

“The Liberal Democrats have got my full support, both the council and the mayor.

“I have had a wonderful term but there comes a time where it becomes impossible to carry on.”

Ms Oaten, who is the mother of former Watford Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Mark Oaten, was first elected to the seat in a by-election in 2002 with a majority of 596.

In 2005 she held the division with a slightly reduced but still solid majority of 546 before being returned again in 2009 with with a majority of 572 votes.