TRIBUTES have been paid to a Winchcombe town councillor who has quit his post – because of the abuse he suffered.

Dan Gillingham-Hyett, the youngest town councillor in Gloucestershire when he was elected in 2007 aged 18, is understood to have resigned because he could no longer cope with the abuse he endured as a local representative.

In a letter read out to a meeting of Winchcombe Town Council on Wednesday night, the 22-year-old, said: "Due to circumstances that I wish to remain private, I feel I should step down."

Although the Echo was unable to contact Mr Gillingham-Hyett yesterday, in an interview earlier in the week he said he had decided to step down in the wake of last week's extraordinary town council meeting, at which plans for the town's controversial artificial pitch were discussed.

The councillor said it was time to leave when the criticism became personal.

At last week's meeting the town council voted in favour of a "compromise" 50mm depth pitch for the £1m sports development hub at Winchcombe School. Many people want the pitch to be used for other sports as well as football.

And more than 100 protesters attended last week's meeting, demanding that the council opt for a 40mm pitch instead, which they claim would permit both hockey and football to be played on it.

Sue Sturgeon, the town council's vice-chairman, yesterday refused to comment on the circumstances surrounding Mr Gillingham-Hyett's resignation.

She simply said: "I would like to thank Dan for the excellent services given over the past three years and deeply regret that he has felt it necessary to resign at this moment in time."

Graham Jones, a spokesman for pressure group Winchcombe Sports for All, which organised last week's protest, said he had a lot of sympathy for Mr Gillingham-Hyett.