Councillor 'agrees to extradition'

John Astley failed to report back to police

A Bristol councillor could be back in the city shortly after deciding not to fight extradition proceedings in Holland.

A hearing was due to have taken place in an Amsterdam court on Wednesday to start proceedings to force the return of John Astley to Bristol.

But it is believed the former Liberal Democrat councillor, who resigned from the group recently, has decided not to resist extradition.

The 38-year-old has been held by Dutch police after failing to surrender to police bail in Bristol over alleged election fraud.

He also faces a police investigation on his return to Bristol after a computer and disks were seized by detectives from his home in the Easton area of the city.

Mr Astley, who represents Lawrence Hill ward, was suspended from Bristol's Liberal Democrat group last week and subsequently resigned from the group.