A CHEATING councillor has vowed not to resign after his affair with a vicar's wife led to calls for him to quit.

Labour councillor Mark Fittock has come under pressure to go after it emerged he has moved out of Swanley ward which he represents on Kent County Council (KCC).

The 64-year-old has moved in with his lover of six months Sarah Arding in Heath Gardens, Dartford, after 43 years of marriage to Gill, 63.

Mother-of-four Mrs Arding, 44, has been married to Richard, the vicar of St Michael and all Angles, in Wilmington, for 23 years.

Hextable councillor Dee Morris is questioning Cllr Fittock's commitment and thinks he should resign.

She said: "How can he be aware of the issues now he's not even living there?

"We can't get in touch with him, he's not answering his phone and he didn't turn up to an important meeting in July.

"We're suffering for this.

"To be fair to the people of Hextable I assume he will resign."

Cllr Fittock is adamant his personal life has had no impact on his ability to serve voters.

The father-of-two said: "The people huffing and puffing haven't even made an effort to get in touch with me.

"I'll not be resigning. Why should I when I'm doing a good job?

"I've moved from Swanley but it's not a problem.

"What's happened is nothing to do with anyone else, it's personal to me and my family."

Barry Brookbank, former councillor for Sevenoaks, was beaten by 200 votes at elections in May to the Swanley seat by Mr Fittock.

He said: "Had these facts been known before the election would the result have been the same?

"It's a sad situation, but it's a worry he's moved out of the area, how will he know what's going on?"

KCC Labour leader Councillor Mike Eddy supports his colleague and said: "What's all the fuss about?

"People need to get real instead of slagging off someone who's doing an excellent job."