A LONG-serving county councillor has said she will step down from representing Wallingford.

Lynda Atkins, who is an independent, has been the town's county councillor for 11 and a half years but she will resign from her post next week.

She said 'other opportunities are opening up' for her so felt it is now the right time to quit.

But she said representing her town had been a 'pleasure and a privilege'.

The councillor pleaded that her colleagues work together for Oxfordshire people rather spending meetings arguing in the future.

READ MORE: Labour holds onto county council seat in by-election

She said: "We work best when we work together and there are very effective councillors on all sides of the room."

Mrs Atkins is the Royal British Legion's county chairman and co-chairwoman of the Oxfordshire Veterans Forum.

She was first elected to the county council in a by-election in March 2008.

The county council's chairman, Les Sibley, said Mrs Atkins would be 'sorely missed' by the authority.

Ian Hudspeth, the county council's leader, told Mrs Atkins: "You have served your community well and I wish you all the best in the future."

A by-election will be held a few weeks' time.

Its date will be announced after Mrs Atkins resigns.