FORMER nurse Sue Fox has become the newest councillor on Wellington Town Council after being voted in by her new colleagues.

Cllr Fox was co-opted onto the council for Rockwell Green after there was not enough support from members of the public to hold an election.

The council received four nominations from people wanting to fill the vacancy left by Zoe Barr who resigned earlier this summer.

Cllr Fox, who introduced herself to councillors as a “northern lass” who moved to Wellington four years ago, said she wanted to get involved in the local community and help local people.

“I come from a nursing background and so I’m here to help other people,” she said. “I like to make a difference.”

Cllr Fox said during her time in Wellington she had been impressed by how much was going on in the town and the growing diversity within the local community.

“It’s a vibrant little town and I would like to help make it an even better place,” she said.

Other candidates to stand for co-option were Tim Knowles, Chris Penk and Mike Crew and each had three minutes in which to impress councillors as to why they would be a good addition to the council.

Former teacher Mr Knowles, who had lived in Tokyo for 37 years where he had taught English, said he would use his life’s experiences to help Wellington and to encourage young people to stay in the town rather than move away.

Mr Penk, from the House of Cake store in Wellington, said he had recently moved to the town and was “blown away” by everything that went on in the local community.

And well-known Mr Crew, who has been involved in a number of local organisations down the years, said he was now ready to devote time to serving as a councillor.

A secret ballot was carried out among councillors and town clerk Dave Farrow announced that Cllr Fox had won by a majority decision.

Mr Farrow congratulated Cllr Fox on her victory and the other candidates were thanked for putting their names forward.