Long-serving Conservative councillor for Kingswinford South, Peter Miller has resigned from the Conservative party with immediate effect.

He will serve as an independent councillor and will stand as one in May’s local elections.

The news follows other Conservative councillors, Mark Westwood and Shaun Keasey and former Mayor of Dudley, Anne Millward who left the party and formed Sedgley and Gornal Independents.

Cllr Miller was first elected in 1991, serving until 1995 and was re-elected in May 2000.

He served as Mayor of Dudley in 2010/11.