The chairman of Brandon Town Council is recovering in hospital after he collapsed at home and ended up in a critical condition.

Reg Silvester, who is also the town's representative for Suffolk County Council, was taken ill on Bank Holiday Monday and taken to West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds.

His daughter, Jenny, said yesterday that he had been in a critical condition but was improving.

'He was taken in last week with an infection and was in intensive care. He's out now and is making a recovery,' she said.

Mr Silvester, 72, was elected to Suffolk County Council in May, standing as a candidate for UKIP.

He was wished a speedy recovery by Stephen Edwards, his deputy on the town council.

'He's a long-standing member of the council and been chair in four or five of the last eight years.

'We wish him all the best and look forward to welcoming him back to council,' he said.

He added he hoped to visit Mr Silvester later in the week.

Mr Silvester's family said they expected him to be in hospital for at least a month.

He had recently been waiting for an operation on his hip, according to his daughter.

Christine Mason, Brandon Town Council clerk, confirmed that Mr Edwards would fill in for him in the interim.

Suffolk County Council said Mr Silvester's duties would be managed by UKIP, with another of the party's county councillors likely to assume his responsibilities until he has made a full recovery.

He was due to chair a meeting of Brandon Town Council last night before falling ill, where he was scheduled to present a report on attempts to bring Brandon's local bus back into use. That has now been deferred to a later meeting.

A presentation on the Brandon Centre was also deferred due to Mr Silvester's absence.