The chief executive of East Devon District Council has announced his retirement.

Mark Williams joined the council as assistant chief executive in 2000 and was promoted to the position of chief executive two years later.

As the head of the 'paid service' of council officers, who are like civil servants, a chief executive is a council's main policy adviser and manager. Council officers are politically neutral and support the decision-making of democratically elected councillors.

Mr Williams retires as the longest-serving district chief executive in England and Wales.

He said: "I would like to thank all the wonderful people I have worked with over the years.

"A captain is only as good as their team, and I have been blessed to have great support from councillors and officers alike.

"The council is facing significant future challenges and the time is now right to pass the baton."

Mark also served for five years as chief executive of the former South Somerset District Council.

In his own time, he volunteered for 10 years as a lifeboatman with Sidmouth Independent Lifeboat and for six years as a trustee of Devon Air Ambulance.