A town councillor has resigned after being arrested for the possession of cannabis.Dale Tomlinson stood down as a member of Beccles Town Council on Wednesday - he had been cautioned by police on May 11.

A town councillor has resigned after being arrested for the possession of cannabis.

Dale Tomlinson stood down as a member of Beccles Town Council on Wednesday - he had been cautioned by police on May 11.

He was arrested outside the White Horse pub in New Market, Beccles, on May 5 during a friend's birthday celebrations on suspicion of possessing a controlled drug with intent to supply.

He was later cautioned for possessing a class C drug and said: "It was just a stupid minor thing. It was half an unlit cigarette. I don't do drugs. I don't know why I had it. I was celebrating a friend's birthday and someone gave it to me."

Mr Tomlinson, who lives in Newgate, resigned following a meeting of the council's personnel committee. He wrote in a letter to the council: "I wish to thank the fellow councillors, old and new, that I have served with and the clerks for the great advice and learning I have received, together with the support that I have received from many local businesses and customers in the town since this regrettable incident occurred."

The council will now take steps to co-opt another councillor in Mr Tomlinson's place. The 37-year-old electrician was co-opted on to the council last August.

Earlier this month he retained his seat on the council unopposed after there were 16 nominations for the 16 council seats up for election.