A councillor from Nailsworth has quit Labour to become an independent.

Cllr Sue Reed, who sits on Stroud District Council for Nailsworth, is resigning from her party.

She is also deputy mayor for Nailsworth and sits on the town council, which is currently fighting a district council proposal to abolish free parking in the town.

News of her resignation comes ahead of a full district council meeting tonight, which will see councillors vote on a motion to make sure they all get to sign off on introducing charges for car parks in the Stroud district.

Cllr Reed, who is expected to attend, may give a statement explaining her resignation.

Leader of the Labour- and Green-run council Doina Cornell, who last night met with Nailsworth's mayor Jonathan Duckworth to discuss parking charges, expressed regret at cllr Reed's decision.

"I sorry that Sue felt she had to make this decision, but I do understand her reasons for doing so.

"On behalf of the Labour Group of councillors I would like to thank Sue for her contributions to our group, and I look forward to continuing to work with her at the council for the benefit of local people.

Similar sentiment came from fellow Nailsworth and Labour district councillor Steve Robinson.

“I’m disappointed, but Sue is a very independent person,” he said.

“Her resignation will make no difference to our working relationship.”

In May, a district councillor for Rodborough, Karen McKeown, defected from Labour to the Greens.

Cllr Reed has been contacted for comment.