A by-election could be held to fill a seat on Gwynedd Council after a member of the ruling group announced her resignation.

Siân Wyn Hughes was elected to represent the Morfa Nefyn ward in a July 2015 by-election – held as a result of the election of the ward’s previous councillor, Liz Saville Roberts, as the Plaid Cymru MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd.

Cllr Hughes held on to her seat in the 2017 local elections, going on to become the chair of the ruling Plaid Cymru group on the authority.

But five months later, in July 2018, she stood down from the post to develop her nursing career.

In a social media post, the mother of four announced “with a heavy heart” that she was now also resigning as both a county and town councillor.

“With a heavy heart I would like to inform you all that I have resigned from my role as a councillor for Morfa Nefyn and Edern, also as a member of Nefyn Town Council.

“I would like to thank all of the residents of Morfa Nefyn and Edern for your support since being elected in 2015.”

A spokesman for Gwynedd Council confirmed the authority was taking the appropriate steps to fill the vacant seat.

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