A long-serving Bassetlaw councillor has spoken of the 'great upset' caused to her and her family by the false posting on social media of her resignation.

Despite the posts distributed on social media earlier this month, claiming Cllr Josie Potts was ending her term, with a by-election looming, the ward councillor for Worksop South-East wants everyone to be quite sure that she has no intention whatsoever of standing down.

The Labour councillor of many years' service told the Worksop Guardian: "This whole episode was awful and very upsetting. My phone never stopped ringing due to the rumours that were being presented as fact.

"It was and is all totally untrue. I understand it came from a photo being taken down from a councillors’ website in the first instance, which could have been some sort of glitch. I knew nothing about it until the calls started and was very shocked.

Councillor Josie Potts has dismissed claims that she has resigned or is about to resign.

placeholder image — Councillor Josie Potts has dismissed claims that she has resigned or is about to resign.

"I'm as passionate as I have always been about being a councillor, and helping people where help is needed.

She continued: "I have been through a very difficult period, due to losing both my husband and my eldest daughter, Wendy, towards the end of last year. But I'm working and doing my best for people, attending meetings and currently organising a fundraising event.

"I couldn't believe it when people were telling me they'd seen that I'd resigned. Julie Leigh, the leader of the council, rang me and told me not to worry about it, but it's been very unpleasant."

On a more positive note, Cllr Potts has received a ‘massive amount’ of support and good wishes from concerned people in and around Worksop, which has given her "a real lift".

Cllr Sue Shaw shared a post in retaliation to one stating wrongly that her fellow councillor had resigned.

In previous years, Cllr Potts, who lives in Manton and serves on several council committees, was nominated by the Worksop Guardian and invited to the Queen's Christmas reception for her considerable work within the community.

She worked tirelessly to help ease drugs problems in Worksop and, with others, achieved great success, taking the issues to Westminster and gaining funds to help spearhead initiatives within the area that had remarkable results.

She was instrumental in transformative work that was highlighted nationally for its success in gaining help for heroin addicts and reducing crime in Bassetlaw.

She has run youth football teams, helped run majorette bands, and ensured veterans get support when needed. Currently she serves on health and safety and licensing committees, and the Introductory Tenancies Appeal Board.

"I'm passionate about my work with the Council and will make myself useful while ever I can", added Cllr Potts. "My motivation is not for reward, it's to make a difference. I'll go over and above when needed."

With two surviving children of four, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, Cllr Potts has been a councillor for 19 years.

In response to the untrue social media information circulated by a Bassetlaw website, Retford district Cllr Sue Shaw distributed an alternative post, highlighting the fact that Cllr Potts is still very much in office.