Colchester Council is guaranteed an injection of fresh blood following next month’s elections.

Six councillors, including former Mayor Henry Spyvee, have decided to step down rather than defend their seat on Colchester Council at the local elections on Thursday, May 3.

Last May, 20 seats were up for grabs and all 20 seats stayed the same colour.

Politicians of all parties said the “Bob Russell effect” helped stop the Lib Dems in Colchester losing seats as their counterparts across the country had done.

But it remains to be seen if the “Sir Bob Russell effect” will have the same impact this year.

See Friday's Gazette for the full story