A CONTROVERSIAL councillor is set to quit after the Daily Echo highlighted that she had moved 80 miles from the area she represents.

Caroline Watts has pledged to send her resignation letter to Winchester City Council chiefs next week, we can reveal.

The Daily Echo tracked down the 26-year-old mother-of-two as she visited her constituency of Whiteley yesterday.

Her move to Somerset had angered political opponents and residents, who claimed they were not being properly represented by a councillor whose new contact details were not available to the public.

She came under fire for continuing to accept £5,589 a year payment for her role.

But Mrs Watts denies she has done anything wrong.

She said: "I haven't disappeared and I have always been totally contactable. People have e-mailed me and written and I have responded.

"I have had paperwork forwarded and I am up to date and still helping the people of Whiteley, which is what I was elected for.

"I haven't resigned before because I didn't want to cost the electorate an expensive and unnecessary by-election. I also wanted to give my party the chance to find a replacement."

Mrs Watts moved to Somerton in Somerset in October so her husband Graham could start up a business selling motorhomes.

She was last seen at a city council meeting on November 3 but has continued to be paid the £465.75 monthly allowance she is entitled to for attending one meeting every six months.

A by-election is expected to be held at the same time as the county council elections in May.

A by-election at any other time would have cost Winchester taxpayers about £2,500.

Mrs Watts said she may resurrect her political career in Somerset.