A Wokingham Borough Councillor has stepped down from her role with immediate effect citing 'personal reasons'.

The former ward member for Shinfield Sarah Bell announced her resignation to residents on social media today (Wednesday, October 16).

The Labour member said that her ‘ongoing personal circumstances have adversely impacted’ her ‘ability to balance the needs of residents and the Council’ with her family needs.

Ms Bell wrote on Facebook: “I feel that I can no longer sustainably deliver the role in the way I want to for our community, but I sincerely hope that everyone who has sought my support or interacted with me so far has felt welcomed, heard and cared for.”

The former councillor was first elected in May of this year and was one of eight total Labour representatives in the chamber.

She runs a small business and works as a local community volunteer alongside her former duties as ward member for Shinfield, near Reading.

Ms Bell said that the community she represents faces ‘challenges’ and that she acknowledges residents may feel ‘let down and disappointed’ by her decision.

Elected in this year’s local elections, Ms Bell served as a councillor for just more than four months.

She worked alongside fellow Labour member for Shinfield Councillor Andrew Gray as well as Conservative Shinfield ward member Councillor Vishal Srinivasan.

Both Ms Bell and Councillor Gray recently voted against Wokingham Borough Council’s local plan for housing, arguing that Shinfield couldn’t cope with more development as supporting infrastructure has lagged behind.

Wokingham Borough Council are yet to announce a by-election or any potential candidates for Ms Bell’s replacement.