Vacancies have appeared on a town council because two well-known community figures have stepped down from their roles after moving to be closer to family.

Don Graham and his wife Chris have become recognised faces in all walks of life in Silloth - and have served on the town council for a combined eight years.

The couple have recently upped sticks and moved to Yorkshire, where the couple first met, to be nearer to their four daughters and four grandchildren while also preparing for the arrival of a fifth.

"We've really enjoyed our time on the council," said Chris, who's been on the authority for the last six years.

"We had a good time being part of decision-making and developments in the town.

"For us we felt the council had made an important contribution to the community.

"Sometimes it can be a thankless task because not everyone agrees on everything the council does but the council has made things happen.

"We'd enjoyed working together with other councillors.

"Everyone is very different in the group but we all come together to achieve for the town."

During their time serving the community they've support initiatives like the successful Silloth in Bloom campaign, launching a business group, fundraising for the RNLI and being part of the coastal communities fund team.

Chris was also secretary of the Silloth Tourism Action Group for seven years while Don served as treasurer for the North Allerdale Development Trust.

"It's something we wanted to do," Chris added.

"The people in Silloth are very welcoming to everyone.

"We will miss the town but we were spending more time on the M6 going through to see family than doing anything else."

Chris is originally from County Durham but moved to Yorkshire, while Don grew up in Cumbria but went to university in Yorkshire.

Their resignation has left a gap for two new people to join the council, with applications for the roles now open.

Interested parties have until Friday, May 5 to register their interest.

To do so they should write a letter to the town clerk explaining about themselves and why they want to become a councillor.

To be eligible you need to fit at least one of the four criteria:

* Be registered as an elector in the Silloth parish

* Have been the owner or tenant of a property in the parish for the whole of the last year

* Your main place of employment over the last year has been in Silloth

* Or you have lived in the parish (or within three miles) of Silloth during the whole of the last year

For more information, contact the town clerk on townclerk@silloth-on-solway.co.uk or by calling 07775686857.