The council officer behind Weymouth's Peninsula development and plans to revitalise Dorchester town centre is leaving Dorset for a new job.

Tributes were paid this week to Martin Hamilton who has been appointed as Chief Executive for Newcastle-Under-Lyme Borough Council in Staffordshire. He will take up the position in the early part of 2019.

For the past three years he has been Strategic Director for the Dorset Councils Partnership and has held other senior local authority roles at Cardiff and Southampton.

In his current role in Dorset he leads on a portfolio of services which encompass economic development, regeneration, assets and infrastructure as well as parking services, tourism and leisure.

Weymouth and Portland borough council leader Jeff Cant broke the news of Mr Hamilton's departure at this week's management committee.

He said the borough had appreciated all his hard work and congratulated him on his new position.

“You have transformed some of our key areas and we are most grateful for the work you have done on local regeneration,” said Mr Cant, “your help has been greatly appreciated.”