DISGRACED councillor John Syme has been left out in the cold as his Liberal Democrat party gears up for next year's county council elections.

Cllr Syme, who hit the headlines in September after revelations of a secret child, was deselected after a secret ballot by his party this week.

Cllr Syme received messages of support from fellow Liberal Democrats when the revelations were made, but now may be unable to contest the seat he has held for eight years.

The decision was made to deselect Cllr Syme at a meeting of the Warminster Liberal Democrats' constituency executive committee on Tuesday night.

Cllr Syme received only 30 per cent of the votes with new Warminster west ward candidate Ray Beaty winning 68 per cent.

Cllr Syme, who also serves as a district and town councillor, now faces the prospect of having to change political parties if he wants to fight for a seat on Wiltshire County Council next May, or stand as an independent candidate.

Mr Beaty, of Portway, Warminster, who is chairman of the Westbury Liberal Democrats, said he was pleased to represent his party at the elections.

He said: "I was pleased with the result as it was very clear-cut. The members have spoken.

"I have worked with John for many years and look forward to working with him in the future. He has done a lot of good work for people in Warminster."

Cllr Syme was thrown out of his marital home in September after his wife discovered his cheating ways.