THE race is on to replace a shamed councillor who was forced out after failing to attend meetings.

Durham County councillor Keith Murray-Hetherington, the Labour member for Stanley, was ousted in May, after he did not turn up for a single meeting in six months.

The authority confirmed that a by-election for his seat will take place on Thursday, July 17. The poll will be an all-postal ballot - the first of its kind for the county council.

There will be one traditional polling booth, based in Derwentside District Council's offices in Front Street, Stanley.

Derwentside will run the election on behalf of the county authority. It follows the recent success of the all-postal elections for Derwentside, Wear Valley and Chester-le-Street earlier this year, which saw an increase in turnout from 31 to 52.4 per cent.

Nominations for the seat close at noon on Tuesday, June 24 and ballot papers will go out from Wednesday, July 2.