A dedicated public servant is taking a step back from local politics but will continue to serve the community in his role as town councillor.

Graham Roberts, who represents the Bransty division for Copeland on Cumbria County Council, says he will not run for office when Cumbria's two new unitary councils are formed in May 2022.

Instead, he will focus on his duties as councillor for the Harras ward on Whitehaven Town Council - a position he has held since 2015.

Cllr Roberts said: "I have decided not to stand for unitary authority because I'm 70 next year and I think it's time to step back. I've been very proud to represent Bransty. I've done two terms at Cumbria County Council and I've been a borough councillor in the interim. I did four years on Copeland Council and I've just completed six years for the town council.

"I now want to concentrate on Whitehaven and its future. I really enjoy the town council and I've got some really good friends as councillors and the officers are lovely. It's more hands-on. I can make a difference through the town council. At the county council, it's all driven through the government and set in stone.

"I want to remain in politics to serve out my time as a county councillor and that will end in March 2023. My position as a town councillor is unaffected so I will serve the electorate faithfully as a county councillor until 2023. I wish the new authority well."

The former mayor of Whitehaven said he was looking forward to continuing to work to improve his beloved hometown.

"Whitehaven, in a lot of ways has been overlooked," he said. "There's all sorts of things that the town council can do to make things better. We must look at regenerating the town. That's a must.

"I've enjoyed my political career as a county and borough councillor but I now think it's time to help the town council as much as I can. But it's been a wonderful experience and I've met a lot of wonderful people."

He said that meeting the public and listening to their issues was his favourite part of the role.

"It's important that people are represented. I've been wonderfully blessed like my late mother to be a people person. It's been a great skill for me. I've been blessed to have this in later life."

Cllr Roberts grew up on Bransty in Whitehaven and attended Bransty Primary School as a child and later Whitehaven Grammar School. He went on to study print and graphics at Brighton Polytechnic.

He said he "fell into local politics by chance" after taking early retirement from his job as printing and graphics manager at Allerdale Council.

Cllr Roberts added: "I've always been a life-long member of the Conservative Party and I will stay a life-long member. I got in and worked hard. I've enjoyed it. I've been so proud, as a Bransty lad, to represent Bransty. It's been a dream job. It's been a lovely challenge but all good things have got to come to an end. I've been privileged."