NORTH Ayrshire Council is set for its second by-election this year.

It comes after the local authority officially confirmed that the elected member for the Arran ward, Timothy Billings, has resigned from his role.

Mr Billings had been an elected member for the past six years, first as a councillor for the Ardrossan and Arran ward and, latterly, he became the first councillor for the solo Arran Ward.

However, he has taken the decision to step away from the role after relocating from the island to England.

Returning officer Craig Hatton has now confirmed that a by-election for the vacant seat will take place on Thursday, September 12.

It will be the second by-election this year after Labour's Mary Hume was elected in the Kilwinning ward following the death of Conservative councillor John Glover.

North Ayrshire Council will begin accepting nomination papers for interested candidates between 10am and 4pm from Friday, August 2 until Monday, August 12. 

These nominations will be taken at the Election Office at Cunninghame House in Irvine or at the council offices in Lamlash on the Isle of Arran.