A Labour councillor has resigned from Sandwich Town Council following ‘serious differences' with opposition members.

Cllr David Wood is understood to have announced his departure during an extraordinary meeting held by Sandwich Town Council on Friday.

The meeting was held to discuss a single confidential item and was therefore private. It is alleged other councillors also walked out during proceedings.

The town council has been asked to comment.

In a statement, Cllr Wood said: "I resigned over serious differences I had with the leadership group within Sandwich Town Council over fairness, good governance and ultimately core democratic principles.

"These things matter at every level of government. Unfortunately these differences could not be reconciled so it was time for me to go.

"I now intend to focus on my family, job and community work."

Cllr Wood, a father of two and school teacher, joined the council in November 2013 following the retirement of Cllr Simon Leith.

He was the first Labour councillor representing the town for more than a decade.

Since then he has continued to push for a police presence to be restored in Sandwich.

He steered the council to support Deal Area Foodbank through the Toll Bridge Fund and led a working group to set up Sandwich Pantry, helping struggling families to meet the cost of living.

He backed the work of Sandwich Boatyard Action Group after a lease was issued to a limited company rather then a public trust, a mistake which cost Dover District Council £82,000.

He also initiated a project to deliver Coop vouchers to the families of pupil premium students during the pandemic, and has supported the youth projects across the town.

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