HEIGHINGTON will not have a parish council election after a candidate dropped out.

Heighington, like Hurworth and Middleton St George, was due to have a parish council election on May 3.

But Darlington Borough Council's returning officer confirmed yesterday that Simon Crowe, of Millbank, Heighington, had withdrawn his nomination papers.

There are now nine candidates for the nine seats. Hurworth and Middleton St George are the only parishes that will have elections.