Councillor Mark Cullen (Westhill and District) has been accused of failing to attend meetings and not replying to emails and telephone messages from local residents.

Westhill and Elrick Community Council deferred a vote of no confidence in the independent councillor at their monthly meeting to give Mr Cullen the opportunity to respond to the concerns in person next month.

Community council secretary Beryl Menzies said: "I have heard local residents saying that they just can't get hold of him and that he doesn't respond to his emails or telephone messages."

Despite repeated attempts from the Piper, Mr Cullen was unavailable for comment on the matter this week.

Mr Cullen was paid £14,725 by Aberdeenshire Council and claimed over £1,600 in expenses between April 1 last year and March 31 this year.

With fellow Westhill and District councillor Gurudeo Saluja recovering after suffering a stroke last month, local residents have said that there is an extra need for their other councillors to be easily contactable.