Dartmouth's longest continuous serving town councillor Debbie Morris has quit – the second to resign in three weeks.

Mrs Morris had been a town councillor for 20 years and served two years as mayor in 2010 and 2011.

Her letter of resignation was submitted to the council on Tuesday this week, citing 'personal reasons.'

Her resignation follows hard on the heels of that of Joanna Gaukroger who quit just over three weeks ago after two and a half years on the council, quoting 'pressure of work' as the reason.

Mrs Morris had been a town councillor for 20 years and was chairman of the town's corporate property committee when she announced her resignation.

Her continuous long service with the council comes out at seven years longer than the nearest town councillor Francis Hawke.

Mrs Morris, who lives in Stoke Fleming, told the Chronicle: 'I have got no comment, it was purely for personal reasons. I wish the council well.'

The two resignations mean that the town council is now down to 14 councillors.

And it could mean a double town council election for the town – one in the Townstal ward which Mrs Morris represented and one in the Clifton ward which Mrs Gaukroger represented.

The town council is now advertising both vacancies.

If 10 or more local electors call for a poll in either or both wards the town council will have to hold an election. If not the councillors will be able to co-opt the new councillors themselves.