COUNCILLORS in Caerphilly discussed the vacancy left by the resignation of Blackwood county councillor Kevin Etheridge at Tuesday's full council meeting.

Councillors noted the vacancy and the authority is now awaiting written requests to fill the position from at least two local government electors.

The authority’s returning officer will then set a date for the election, which must be held within 35 days of the requests being received.

The election to fill the post is estimated to cost the council around £7,000.

Cllr Etheridge, who was an independent and first elected as a county councillor for Blackwood in 1999, resigned earlier this month for personal reasons, saying he wanted to put his family first.