A COUNCILLOR has been disqualified from Westhoughton Town Council for not attending any meetings in the past six months.

The removal of Cllr Kieran Tapster, who has suffered illness in his family, could see a bi-election called in his White Horse ward.

Under council rules, a ballot will have to be held to replace the councillor if 10 people write to the council requesting one.The Liberal Democrat councillor, who was elected to the council in May 2003, is said to be making regular trips to Ireland to visit his seriously ill father and has recently suffered a family bereavement.

He is the first councillor for a number of years to be removed from Westhoughton Town Council for not attending meetings. Cllr Tapster was unavailable for comment, but the leader of Westhoughton Town Council, Cllr David Wilkinson, said he was disappointed to be losing such a capable councillor.

He said: "Kieran was a first class member of the council and the circumstances are very unfortunate. His father is seriously ill and he is having to make regular trips back home to be with him. It is regrettable, but election rules are very clear on non-attendance."

The clerk of Westhoughton Town Council, Christine Morris, confirmed she had informed the electoral services department at Bolton Council of the vacancy.

She said: "Unfortunately, as Cllr Tapster has not attended either a council, committee or sub-committee meeting since July, we had no choice but to disqualify him."