TWO women with business backgrounds have joined the ranks of Williton Parish Council.

The authority, which has been unable to fill one vacancy for some months, was left further depleted after the resignation of Paddy Gower in July and, more recently, Paul Morse.

But at their meeting on Monday councillors co-opted new recruits Rebecca James and Jacqui Lakin.

Cllr James, who runs Catwell House B and B with her husband Ross, told the council she was Somerset born and bred, had started her career as a retail manager and had lived in Williton since 2003.

She said she had put herself forward for co-option because she believed it was time she "stood up and was counted".

Cllr Lakin, who moved to the village more recently, said she was a former company secretary and president of the South Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce.

She told the meeting a business she and her husband had run had fallen victim to the recession but having moved to Somerset she now wanted to get more involved in the local area.

Councillors voted unanimously to co-opt both women and chairman Cllr Rosemary Woods said she hoped their experience of being councillors would be a pleasant one.

She paid tribute to the service given by Mr Gower and Mr Morse and said she regretted the resignation of any councillor.

And she reminded the meeting that the council still had one remaining vacancy.

Anyone interested in joining the authority can contact the clerk on 01984 633979.