A county councillor who was voted in with a large majority in north Norfolk has resigned after three months.

Liberal Democrat, Ed Foss, won the North Walsham East seat in May taking over from the party's former leader at County Hall Paul Morse.

The former EDP and North Norfolk News journalist had a 363-vote majority over UKIP.

Mr Foss, from North Walsham, said in an email today: 'I have today tendered my resignation as county councillor for the North Walsham East division.

'I have, with much regret, made the decision due to an unexpected change in work commitments.

'I wish the administration luck in their attempts to move to a committee system in the coming months, an ambition which remains key to the health of democracy in Norfolk.'

Dr Marie Strong, leader of the Norfolk Liberal Democrat group, said: 'Ed Foss has all the makings of a first class councillor – interested in people, hard working and a skilled communicator. I very much regret, as do the members of my group, that Ed has found it necessary to resign. However Ed and his wife Gay have a young family and he has to put first the wellbeing of his family, himself and his future career first.

'In turn we county councillors, if we are to recruit and retain young councillors of his calibre, must ensure that our council encourages and sustains them.'

She added that the party would put forward town and district councillor Eric Seward in the by-election.

Dr Strong described him as an 'experienced councillor'.

She said: 'I would like to think that in years to come Ed would return as a councillor under the committee system which I'm sure he would relish.'

The resignation has not affected the balance of power at County Hall as the Liberal Democrats, Labour and the one Independent councillor voted to rule jointly at the end of May.