COMMUNITY-minded villagers in Studley who have a bit of free time on their hands can apply to join the parish council after vacancies arose.

Studley Parish Council is currently two councillors short, with 10 members instead of 12, following the departure of two members.

Parish clerk Dot Mitchell said it would be the perfect opportunity for volunteers who wanted to put something back into the village.

The council can co-opt members onto it without an election, though there will be full parish council elections in 2006.

Members meet two evenings a month, on the first and third Tuesday.

Parish councillors look at all planning applications in the village and have a say on them before they go to Stratford District Council's planning committee west.

They also oversee an annual budget of tens of thousands of pounds for village projects and have input on landscaping, lighting and various other matters.

Mrs Mitchell said: "We can provide training and if parish councillors have to travel anywhere, they would get expenses.

"But it's a voluntary role in the main, if people want to put something back into the village."

Anybody interested in applying can call Mrs Mitchell on weekday mornings on 853204 or drop into Studley Village Hall in High Street.

Meanwhile, Mrs Mitchell said any residents in High Street or Redditch Road interested in applying for a parking permit following the introduction of decriminalised parking should also contact her.