A parish council chairman said he intended that this year would be his last in the chairman’s post.

Councillor John Huxley, of Haworth, Cross Roads and Stanbury Parish Council, was speaking at the body’s annual meeting.

He told colleagues that this civic year would comprise his sixth term of office since he took over from Councillor Peter Hill.

He said recent health problems and future commitments meant it would be very difficult for him to continue holding a civic office.

Commenting on ongoing efforts to retain some form of emergency service at Haworth Fire Station, he stressed the importance of securing fire cover for the Worth Valley. The fire service recommended the station should be shut down as part of a major cost-cutting programme.

Coun Huxley noted that if the parish council had not challenged the planned closure and come up with alternative proposals, the facility’s staff would already have been made redundant and the premises closed.

But he said it would be impossible for any solution to satisfy everyone.