The chair of Irvine’s community council has stepped down.

Scott Gunion, who took over after long-serving chair June Niven left the group last year, has himself stood down as a community councillor.

Taking over will be Fullarton resident David Bell, who has been a member of the Irvine community body for the past two years.

Scott Gunion said: “It is with a heavy heart that I must take a step back from my involvement with Irvine Community Council. I joined the community council to help make it more open, transparent, visible, and active within the community. Whilst there can always be more work done to keep improving, I feel that we have made giant strides into achieving these goals.

“I’ve had the good fortune of having great people around me, from my fellow community councillors, North Ayrshire Council staff, councillors, community centres, and so on. I am confident the community council is being left in safe hands. I look forward to seeing the work they do in the future and wish them all the very best moving forward.”