CASTLE Point’s youngest councillor says he plans to stay in the borough to fight for his seat in the next election.

Tory Andrew Sheldon, 25, who represents St Mary’s ward in Benfleet, is still living with his mother and sister, while saving for a deposit to buy a house.

Mr Sheldon had been due to move outside the borough with his family – something which would have prevented him from standing again in May’s borough council elections.

However, he said this week he would be looking for a place to rent in the borough, so he can defend his St Mary’s ward seat on May 22.

Mr Sheldon said: “It was the issue of the Local Plan that did it. My electors know me as a Local Plan campaigner and as the plan is due to come to the crunch next year, I found myself thinking I couldn’t really leave now.”