SENATOR Dick Shenton was taken to hospital yesterday but was in a ‘comfortable’ condition this morning.

The Senator fell ill yesterday and is believed to be suffering from viral pneumonia.

His son, Senatorial candidate Ben Shenton, visited him yesterday and said that his father was comfortable and feeling better.

Mr Shenton added that hospital staff wanted to keep him under observation for a few days and that they expected him to be released next week.

Senator Shenton was taken to hospital by ambulance but his son said he was well enough to have telephoned him this morning to ask about last night’s hustings meeting in St Lawrence.

The Senator’s absence from the States this morning meant that his proposed vote of no confidence in the Environment and Public Services Committee could not be lodged today, and is likely to mean that the debate on his proposition on a halt on waterfront development – which began in the last sitting – will not go ahead for the time being.