Cromer's mayor Dr Mike Bossingham has resigned from his position and the town council on mental health grounds.

Dr Bossingham, 69, said "with the deepest regret" he needed to step away from the council on the advice of his family, for the sake of his wellbeing.

He said: "It has really been affecting my mental health.

"I cannot say much, but certain experiences have damaged my mental health and for the sake of my own wellbeing my family advised me to take myself away from the situation.

"I decided it was time to put myself first and go."

Dr Bossingham's resignation is not the first from the town council in recent months.

Mick Hayhurst, David Baksh, Mary Russell and Tim Bartlett have also left since December. Mr Bartlett, who also resigned this week, said he did not wish to comment.

Dr Bossingham said that while the other former councillors had their own reasons for leaving, a "negative atmosphere" at the council may have also been a factor.

He said: "It got to the stage where I was dreading going to a meeting because I knew what it would be like."

A statement from the town council's deputy clerk said that they were "saddened" the councillors had left and thanked them for their hard work.

The council said: "Any concerns raised by any of the outgoing members will be addressed via the appropriate channels."

Deputy mayor Pat West is to cover mayoral duties until a new mayor is elected.

The council added: "The legal notices are being published in date order as to when the resignations were received.

"If there is no call for election for any of the vacancies they will be filled by co-option.

"The town council look forward to welcoming the new councillors in due course."

Dr Bossingham, who was Cromer's first Green mayor, took the position in May last year after serving as deputy mayor for two years.

He said that although he was leaving the council, he was not withdrawing from public life in Cromer, where he is a retired Methodist minister.