Les Bayliss, John Zarcynski and Marianne Harman fill the remaining seats on Honiton Town Council.

Candidates who stood for co-option to Honiton Town Council pledged to do their bit for the town when they battled it out for three vacant seats.

The five candidates each gave a short presentation to councillors during a meeting last week.

Les Bayliss, John Zarcynski and Marianne Harman were selected to fill the remaining seats after impressing councillors.

Les Bayliss said: “I would like to be somewhere I can affect policies being made in Honiton.

“I feel I have got the time and am able to contribute to the running of the community of Honiton in all aspects of planning, environment and safety issues, which I can bring from my previous career.

“I am very interested in environment issues and things like emergency planning issues and the general state of the roads and footpaths.”

Local businessmen Lindsay Norris and Richard Pinney, who were among the five candidates, were unsuccessful.

Modern foreign language teacher Marianne Harman, who has been instrumental in pushing for a community cinema project in the town, believes she will be able to bring a new perspective to the table using her experience of teaching young people.

She said: “My background as a secondary teacher, teaching modern foreign languages, can bring that prospective of working with young people, working with community college and putting forward the point of view of teenagers.

“I have two children of my own, so I can offer that experience of what they are looking for from the town.

“I would like to help other people set up projects they are interested in.”

Mrs Harman also told the panel of councillors she could bring her own business experience after running her own small company trading on markets.

She added: “I would like to see a cinema up and running in the town - I’ve got plans like you wouldn’t believe.

“I would like to look at the market and am particularly interested at tourist orientation on the market and holding more events to bring people into the town, as well as more provision for young people.

“I am a massive supporter of the community complex, so I would like to work towards achieving that.”

John Zarczynski, completes the now full line-up of the town council and, during his presentation to councillors, said: “I have lived here for 23 years and consider this my town.

“I’ve got more time on my hands now and I would like to do something for Honiton.

“I’ve got strong views on numerous issues relating to services and housing.

“I want to make a significant contribution to the well-being of this town.”