JOHN Hudson has been forced to step down as chairman of Stroud District Council due to ill-health.

Despite suffering a heart attack over the Christmas period, the 47-year-old had hoped to return to his role at Ebley Mill.

However, at a meeting of the full council last night, SDC's chief executive David Hagg read out a letter from Mr Hudson in which he said he would be resigning.

Following his recent health scare, Mr Hudson said he had had the time to think about his own and his family's future and had reached the conclusion that it was best for him to step aside to concentrate on his recovery.

For more on this story see next week's paper.