ALMOST half the members of a village administration have indicated they will be quitting their posts after refusing to sign a new code of conduct.

Westminster wants all three tiers of local government to accept new rules which set out what is expected from those elected to serve their community.

However, the new regulations have not proved popular everywhere, with the Catterick Village Parish Meeting being the latest to find itself embroiled in the controversy.

Five experienced members have indicated they have no intention of putting their names to the code.

They still have 28 days to change their minds, as well as a shorter period of grace should they still fail to sign the forms.

However, parish meeting chairman Margaret Tickner has confirmed that if they have not accepted the new rules by the end of May, the administration will have no choice but to start looking for replacements.

"These are valued and experienced councillors who are going to be extremely difficult to replace," she said.

"For example, my vice-chairman, Ken Redhead, has been such a tower of strength I have no idea how I would have managed the last three years as chairman without him."

She said that when Councillor Tony Pelton stood down as a member of the parish meeting recently, there were few people who showed any interest in taking his place.

"I have no idea where we are going to find people to fill another five posts," she said.

Also reported to be considering their positions are councillors Michael Chapman, Roy McCarthy, Dee Barker and Brian Smith.

Mr Redhead said he doubted he would change his stance. He said: "I am 70 and have served on the parish council for 30 years. I find it slightly insulting that, after serving the community voluntarily for so long, we should be asked to sign something like this. Frankly, I think it's a bare-faced cheek.