A PARISH councillor who has attended one meeting since last January was given the unanimous support of his fellow councillors, despite living in Switzerland.

In May 2015 Councillor Ryan Sparrowhawk was elected to Buckhurst Hill Parish Council with 2,468 votes, a commanding 64 per cent majority.

During his first year he was a regular at full council meetings and finance and establishment committees.

Since May 2016 however, Cllr Sparrowhawk has attended only three council meetings, last showing his face on May 25, 2017.

The reason for this hands off approach is that the Conservative politician lives in Zofingen, a district in northern Switzerland, where he works as a teaching assistant for an international school.

At a meeting on November 23, 2017, the 11 councillors in attendance voted to keep him on as a councillor, despite the former Bancroft's School pupil living 464 miles away as the crow flies.

Steven Neville, a Green councillor, suggested the parish council's patience could soon wear thin.

He said: "I feel if he doesn't shape up by the end of March we should have an election. The council was giving him a bit of extra time.

"This is his last chance. If he hasn't committed by March he has to go. I suspect he would be called to resign then the council would call a bi-election."

A record of the November meeting outlined Cllr Sparrowhawk's situation.

It read: "Cllr Sparrowhawk's employers currently require him to work in Switzerland, making it virtually impossible to attend Council meetings; although he has been in fairly regular contact be telephone and email.

"This work placement was originally only intended to be for a period of a few months but has already been extended twice. He wishes to continue to fulfil his responsibilities upon his return to the UK but equally recognises that a prolonged absence doesn't serve anyone's interests."

Cllr Sparrowhawk could not be contacted for comment.