A COUNCILLOR living illegally in a council house Huddersfield has been evicted.

Kirklees Council was granted a 21-day possession order for the house in West Grove Avenue, Dalton, at Huddersfield County Court yesterday.

Dalton councillor Colin Walder agreed to pay £705.60 for the use and occupation of the house since February 2. He offered no defence against the application for possession.

The court heard the house had been let to Dawn Hughes, who legally allowed Mr Walder to lodge there. She had since moved to Spain and Clr Walder had stayed.

"Clearly he was not able to remain after her tenancy had expired," said solicitor Mr Ray Massey, for the council.

Under cross-examination by Clr Walder, Dalton area housing manager Mr Raymond Ram said similar situations were usually solved informally.

Clr Walder said he had paid rent from September when Mrs Hughes gave notice to leave. But in March the council refused to accept any more money from him because he was no longer legally a lodger.

Clr Walder had since successfully applied for another house using the council's points system and had been offered one in Rawthorpe,.

Mr Ram said because he was a councillor the application had had to go to a special panel.

Clr Walder said he had received written confirmation the day before the court case.

"What we are here today for I do not know," he said.