A long-serving “people’s” councillor from Shropshire has announced he is quitting his post and the county after nearly 50 years.

Gary Davies, a Wellington town and Telford & Wrekin councillor, says he has made the decision as he and his wife Cath want to move closer to their family in Surrey.

Councillor Davies will be making the move in September after living and working in Wellington for 48 years. He has just turned 70 and said the new move would be the end of his political career.

But he added that he had “no intention” of sitting back as he and his wife would get involved with other projects such as the church.

Councillor Davies said he was going to miss the community where he had lived and worked in for so long.

He said: “I will be looking to leave the council at the end of August. I have been a Wellington town councillor for 21 years this year and I have been with the borough for 11 years. I have been self employed in Wellington for 48 years and owned two toy shops in Wellington and Dawley.

“I also had my own free sheet newspaper and it was the first web free sheet.”

Last year Councillor Davies raised £10,600 for charity but said it was because the Wellington community was so giving.

He added: “I would like to thank the people of College Ward.

“It’s a very diverse ward and to me it’s the best in the borough. It’s a ward that is well-worth serving.”

His wife Cath is a past chairman of Wrekin Trefoil Guild and division commissioner for Girl Guiding and the couple said they had made many wonderful friends and colleagues during their time in the county.

Colleague Angela McClements, town and borough councillor, said: “Gary has dedicated his life to the people of Wellington and in particular College Ward over many years.

“He is very much a ‘people’s councillor’ and has established a well-earned reputation as a hard-working, dedicated councillor and is fully committed to supporting the diverse community of College.

“His energy and enthusiasm to get things done will be sorely missed.”

By Catherine Roche