TOWN councillors are angry that they are being forced to hold an election to replace one of their members.

Councillor Bob Stephenson recently announced his resignation from Yarm Town Council, as he is unable to attend meetings.

The vacancy was advertised, as required by the Election Law, and after 14 working days the council was told that ten people had signed the appropriate paper to force an election, which costs about £3,000.

The situation has been further complicated by the death of long-serving councillor Gwen Porter earlier this month, and the fact that the town council elections are due next May.

Yarm Town Council chairman Councillor Peter Monck said: "With only one year to go to the next town council elections, it was hoped that we would be able to co-opt a replacement.

"With the death of Gwen Porter, there is now another vacancy that will have to be advertised, and soon, to enable us to have one election.

"Normal elections will be held in May 2007. If we are in a three-election situation, it will mean that Yarm will have paid approximately £9,000 on elections in one year.

"We are all annoyed, because it's unnecessary, when to co-opt somebody would have been the most cost-effective way to deal with it."

Coun Monck believes fellow councillor Andrew Sherris is behind the call for an election.

He said he had visited the election office to look at the public document, which listed five members of Coun Sherris' family among the ten names on the petition.

Coun Monck said: "We don't have a problem with the democratic process, but we are disappointed that it's one of our councillors who has collected the signatures for the petition."

Coun Sherris denied he was behind the petition.

He said: "A number of people came to me asking to have an election. It is not something I have orchestrated.

"It is totally valid to hold an election. If a cost is involved, then that is the cost of democracy."