An Isle of Wight councillor says the delayed Hampshire and Solent mayoral election is costing the region millions of pounds in investment and leaving the Island "left behind".

A long-running legal battle over the closure of Bath Road in Ventnor has been delayed once again — pushing any resolution back until August.

It is ‘regrettable’ that the Hampshire and Solent mayoral election is set to be delayed, Isle of Wight Council leader Phil Jordan and three other local authority chiefs have said.

Isle of Wight East MP Joe Robertson says the move raises serious doubts about whether the Island’s own council elections will go ahead next May as planned.