THE mayor of Fairford has resigned amid allegations he punched another man in a pub.

James Nicholls, 47, has been charged with assault by beating following an incident at the Marlborough Arms pub in Fairford in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Police were called at 12.20am after it was alleged another man had sustained a facial injury. He did not require medical treatment.

Nicholls, of Yells Way in Fairford, has been released on police bail and is due to appear at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, May 10.

He has since resigned from his position on Fairford Town Council.

A notice issued by Robert Weaver, chief executive of Cotswold District Council, stated: "Notice is given that, due to the resignation of James Nicholls, a vacancy has arisen for a councillor for the town council.

"The vacancy will be filled by election if a request from 10 local government electors for the town is received within 14 working days of the date of this notice. The request must be received by May 6.

"If 10 signatures are not received by the date given, the town council may fill the vacancy by co-option."

Nicholls was elected mayor of Fairford in May 2020 and unanimously re-elected for a second term last year. He was voted in as deputy mayor shortly after being elected to the council unopposed in 2019.

Having grown up in the town, he moved back to Fairford in 2018 having spent 20 years serving in the Army.

A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Police issued the following statement: "Police were called to reports of an incident at the Marlborough Arms pub in Fairford at 12.20am on Saturday, April 9.

"Officers attended and a man was arrested after it was alleged that another man had been punched and sustained a facial injury. He did not require medical treatment.

"James Nicholls, 47 and of Yells Way in Fairford was charged with assault by beating and released on police bail.

"He is due to appear at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, May 10."

Fairford Town Council declined to comment on the matter.