ONE of Boston's seven Lincolnshire County councillors has resigned her seat after discovering her election was invalid.

Andrea Jenkyns won the Boston North West seat for the Conservative Party in the June elections.

But now she has had to stand down and force a by-election after being told her job as a part-time music tutor for the county council-run Lincolnshire Music Service meant she was not eligible to stand to be a councillor.

Ms Jenkyns, who has since quit her tutoring job, told the Target: "I am naturally very disappointed to have to do this as I was really enjoying my role as an advocate for the people of Boston.

"Frankly I do feel let down by the council as throughout this period I have acted with total openness and with good faith.

"I sought advice from the county council whether I was eligible to stand and I received clear and unequivocal advice that I could do so.

"Legally what is done cannot be undone but I do hope that in future more care is taken by the council in advising prospective candidates.

"I have really enjoyed by brief time at the council and have established positive working relationships with members and officers and intend to stand again for election to confirm the faith the electorate gave me in June."

County council chief executive Tony McArdle said: "Cllr Jenkyns had served on the council for only a short time but has enthusiastically and purposefully entered into the role.

"I am sorry that she has had to bring her service to the authority to a premature end as a result of a mistake on the council's part.

"Prior to putting herself forward for election Cllr Jenkyns sought advice from the council as to whether her position as a part-time employee of the council would prevent her becoming a councillor.

"Regrettably it is clear that the wrong advice was supplied to Cllr Jenkyns allowing her to believe that she could hold both positions at the same time.

"That is not permissible and I am sorry that it has placed her in this position as a result of inaccurate advice."