A city councillor who was dropped by her group last month for failing to attend meetings has stood down.

Cllr Shirley Reid, pictured right, who was elected in May last year, handed in her resignation last week as a ward councillor for Heysham South.

A town hall spokesman says her decision follows a lengthy period of illness.

"She has been dogged by bouts of ill health which seriously limited her involvement in the affairs of the council," she says.

Last month, the Morecambe Bay Independent group and Lancaster city independents dropped Cllr Reid, claiming her performance fell below' party expectations.

Independent group leader Cllr Keith Budden said at the time that she had not attended any council or group meetings for several months.

But it is understood Cllr Reid has not been well and now feels unable to give the necessary commitment to the role of councillor.

The vacancy in the Heysham South Ward will be filled by a by-election on a date yet to be announced.