TWO sitting Tory councillors have been deselected from the Conservative group for next year’s elections.

Phil Capon was first elected as ward councillor for Hawkwell South in 2000, with Tracy Capon following suit two years later in Ashingdon and Canewdon.

They were both up for re-election next May, but the Rochford District Conservative group, led by council leader Terry Cutmore, have deselected the couple.Mrs Capon has been chair of the community overview and scrutiny committee during her tenure, aswell as the leisure, tourism and heritage committee, while she is currently vicechairman of the review committee.

Mr Capon is chairman of the development committee and has acted in either that role, or vice-chairman, since 2009.

The pair were notified by phone. Mrs Capon said: “We were told it was because of our attendance records, but we were both in car accidents in late 2012 and didn’t miss any meetings where our residents needed representing.

“My husband maintained his duties as chair of the development committee and even completed site visits on crutches.

“Wewill continue to focus on serving our residents, as we always have, until May 2015.”