A FORMER district councillor has been charged with attempted murder.

Leo McKnight, 60, who stood down as councillor for Lower Nazeing in 2006, was arrested at his home, in Epping Road, Roydon, on July 27.

He has now been charged with one count of attempted murder and is currently in custody awaiting an appearance at Chelmsford Crown Court, on September 20. No plea has been taken.

Daphne Borton was also a councillor for Nazeing at the same time as McKnight.

She said: “He came on the same time as me. I didn't have very much to do with him because he I didn't see him at many meetings. There was always a bit of a mystery about where he lived, because when he was canvassing he said he lived in Nazeing but shortly afterwards we found he lived, or had moved to Roydon.”

Council leader Di Collins, who was leader of the Conservative group which included McKnight, said: “He was only a councillor for a very short time. I seem to remember him being away a lot. He used to come to one meeting every six months.”