HORWICH could be facing a fourth by-election in a year after the town council’s only Conservative member resigned from her post.

Christine Flanagan, who represented the Claypool Ward, has decided to leave her role on the town council because of work commitments.

Ms Flanagan runs the Personal Hearing Solutions audiology clinic in Chorley Old Road.

The advertisement has been posted by Bolton Council’s elections team and there will be a by-election if 10 registered electors from the Claypool Ward make representations to the elections office by April 16.

There were three by-election in Horwich in 2013, with all three seats being won by Labour candidates.

If the required number of representations are not made then the town council can agree to co-opt a new member.