IN a bizarre turn of events the Conservative who won the January Preston and Littlemoor ward, saying he would not take up the Dorset Council seat is now doing so.

Peter Dickenson who won the seat by almost 400 votes from the second-placed Liberal Democrat ruled himself out on the night because he had made a mistake on his nomination papers in not declaring his Dorset Council part-time job as a lollipop man.

This week he worked his last day as school crossing patrol officer at St Andrew’s School after four years in the role after serving out a month's notice – freeing him to become a councillor and to also stand in the May elections.

“I was getting flack whatever I did from the Lib Dems and Labour so I thought I might as well take the seat and give the residents the councillor the majority of them voted for,” said Mr Dickenson.

He will sit alongside Cllr Louie O’Leary in representing the area, also a Conservative.

He says he realises he will be criticised for his change of heart – but believes that it is better to represent the area and take any jibes aimed at him on the chin.

Mr Dickenson says he believes an investigation is still going on into his nomination paper mistake but, having taken legal advice, decided there was nothing to stop him taking up his role as a councillor, even though it is likely to be only for a few weeks with the elections being held in the first week of May.

Dorset Council's newest councillor may not even get to attend a full council meeting, the Council Leader, Spencer Flower, saying at the last full meeting that it was not likely to happen because of a lack of business.

But his one regret is having to give up the crossing patrol work.

“My last day was really heart-wrenching, I wanted to avoid having to give it up, but if I wanted to be a councillor it just wasn’t possible to continue. … the kids were just great and I had lots of best wishes, little gifts and some great home-made cards,” he said.

Mr Dickenson revealed that since January talks had been held with the Minister, aided by South Dorset MP Richard Drax, to see if an exception could have been made in his case over the faulty nomination, but it was not to be.

“It does seem odd that there seems to be nothing to stop teachers from standing for election, but lollipop men and women are barred because of their employment. I didn’t want to choose, but in the end I had to,” he said.

In the coming days he will be at County Hall, Dorchester to make his declaration and be briefed on his new role.

Mr Dickenson’s wife, Jo, who topped the poll for the Weymouth Town Council Preston seat, on the same evening is now sitting as a councillor and is also planning to stand again in May.

Mr Dickenson has decided not to accept his allowance due to the May elections only being 2 months away.

A spokesman for the Lib Dems said they did not want to comment on Mr Dickenson's decision.

Results from the January election – Weymouth Town Council Preston Ward - Mrs Joanna Dickenson, Local Conservatives 959; Simon Clifford, Lib Dem 610; Steve Brown, Labour 100. Turnout 39.64 per cent.

Dorset Council Littlemoor and Preston Ward Peter Dickenson, Local Conservatives 1,237; Simon Clifford, Lib Dem 833; Steve Brown, Labour 232. Turnout 30.79 per cent.