A council leader is stepping down from the role less than four months after taking up the position.

Reform UK's Graham Harrison was selected as Hartlepool Borough Council's leader in May, after the party secured more seats than anyone else in the local election.

In a statement on Monday, he said he had made the "very difficult decision" to stand down as a recent change in his personal circumstances meant he was "no longer able" to commit the required time.

A new leader will be appointed at an extraordinary meeting of the council on 15 September, with Harrison set to continue representing the Burn Valley ward as a councillor.

Harrison, a former courier for Yodel, said: "The role is, in effect, a full-time commitment and I do not believe it would be right to continue if I cannot give it the time and attention it deserves.

"This has been a very difficult decision and certainly not one I have taken lightly, however I believe it is the right decision both for me personally and for the council."

There are 15 Reform councillors in Hartlepool, with 14 Labour and seven Independents.

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