Councillor Terry Clare is on the verge of being disqualified from Helston town council after failing to attend a meeting for almost six months.

Members were told at their last meeting that Mr Clare was just days away from being automatically disqualified from the council. It is the policy of Kerrier district council - which oversees the town council - to disqualify members who fail to attend meetings for six months, while not submitting apologies that are accepted by the other councillors.

Town clerk Chris Dawson told the councillors: "It would appear he's about to become disqualified. His six months are up in a few days."

He added that he had visited Mr Clare's house in December, to deliver the agenda for that month's meeting, and had been told by Mr Clare's wife that her husband was out of the country.

Town mayor Ronnie Williams said he had heard that Mr Clare could be in France, while councillor Nick Martin said he had heard that Mr Clare was in India.

Mr Williams said: "We have been to the house - at least we have made an effort."

Following the meeting, Mr Dawson said that in the event of Mr Clare being disqualified it was unlikely that an election would be held to replace him immediately, as a full council election was due to be held in May, when all council members would have to be re-elected or replaced.