The widow of Paddington rail crash victim Tony Beeton has triggered a by-election on Didcot's Labour-controlled town council.

Maggy Beeton, one of three Labour councillors in All Saints ward, has resigned because she is moving away from the town.

Her late husband, a top civil servant who was responsible for promoting human rights in Northern Ireland, was among 31 people who died in the crash at Ladbroke Grove in October 1999.

Mother-of-two Mrs Beeton was not available for comment at her home at Wheatfields, Didcot.

After the crash, councillors agreed to relax standing orders allowing Mrs Beeton to be absent from most council meetings because of family commitments.

Deputy council leader Richard Swainston said: "Maggy has been a good councillor during what were difficult circumstances following the tragedy."

The by-election will take place on Thursday, February 22, when Pip Giaretta will be fighting to retain the seat for Labour against Conservative candidate Alan Thompson and Liberal Democrat Andrew Jones.