A controversial Lambeth councillor has resigned from his post - two weeks after the Streatham Guardian exposed him for claiming a £10,000 annual allowance despite living in Bristol and attending just two council meetings in the past 12 months.

Sam Townend, who represented Prince’s Ward, resigned on Friday after allegations from opposition parties he had been neglecting his responsibilities as a councillor.

He moved to Bristol in 2007 after being selected to run for the seat of Bristol North West as Labour’s parliamentary candidate.

However his claim to be able to keep up his Lambeth duties was strongly questioned when it emerged the 34-year-old had attended the minimum number of meetings.

He was just four hours from being expelled as a councillor for breaking the attendance rule before he deputised for another councillor at the last minute on January 6.

Council leader Steve Reed backed Mr Townend when the allegations emerged.

But Mr Townend announced he was quitting as a Lambeth councillor on a Bristol radio station.

He said he would not pay back the allowances he had received.

Lambeth Council will now have to hold a by-election.