The wife of the former clerk at Port St Mary is one of the candidates standing in a by-election in the village on August 24.

Jill Hamilton, wife of Alastair - who left his position as clerk earlier this year - was proposed by commissioner Laurence Vaughan-Williams and seconded by commissioner Alec Merchant.

The other candidates are Norman McGregor-Edwards (proposed by commissioner Ian Skelly and seconded by Jeff Calvert) and Karena Thewliss (proposed by Sue Hansen and seconded by commissioner Rob Hirst).

The seat was vacated when richard Ashcroft stood down. As the village will reduce the board size to nine members, it had hoped to avoid the cost of a by election (up to £4,000) but were forced into it after two residents requested one be held.

Mr Skelly said at a recent meeting he would submit a Freedom of Information request to reveal the names of the residents.