An advertising manager who lost his job at a regional publishing group after soliciting a prostitute is to continue serving as a councillor.

Chris Evans, pictured, was sacked by Newsquest from his role as a  field sales account manager following the incident in Newport, South Wales, and was given a conditional discharge after admitting the offence before the city’s magistrates.

The National Wales reports he has now resigned from Newport Independents Party, the group with which he sits on Newport City Council.

His solicitor Andrew Collingbourne confirmed to the BBC Local Democracy Reporting Service that he had resigned from the group.

However, Cllr Evans will continue to represent the Rogerstone ward as an Independent.

Mr Collingbourne said that Cllr Evans was “not very well at the moment” and would not comment until he was feeling better.

Newport City Council has previously said it had “no powers” to disqualify Cllr Evans.