FORMER UKIP councillor Dave Small has resigned.

Numerous calls had been made for the councillor to step down after it came to light that the Redditch resident referred to African migrants as "scroungers" and several gay celebrities, including Sir Elton John, as being perverts.

Shortly afterwards the newly elected councillor was suspended by UKIP.

Days later he was kicked out with a spokesman for the party saying Mr Small had been expelled after "clearly bringing the party into disrepute".

A statement from Redditch Council said: “We can confirm that today, Dave Small resigned as Councillor for the Church Hill ward with immediate effect.

"The council will now publish a notice of casual vacancy requiring two local electors to call a by-election.

"Until that time the council is now made up of 17 Labour, nine Conservative, one UKIP and one Independent councillor.”

It is believed that Mr Small intends to stand as an independent candidate at a by-election.

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