THE long-standing leader of Stockton's Conservatives has stood down from the role.

Cllr Ken Lupton, 68, a former leader of Stockton Borough Council, has been replaced by Cllr Ben Houchen.

Cllr Houchen, a Yarm councillor, was voted leader at a meeting on Monday night and said he was "honoured and privileged" to be the new leader of the Conservative group.

Cllr Lupton explained he had first began a career in local government on the old Stockton Rural District Council in 1964 and eventually became a council director at Stockton Borough Council before retiring in 1997.

He was then elected as a councillor for Hartburn in 1999 before becoming Conservative leader in 2005 and leader of the council as head of a coalition, from 2007 to 2011.

He was the Conservative candidate for Cleveland's Police and Crime Commissioner in 2012, an election which was won by Labour's Barry Coppinger.

Confirming he still stand down as a councillor next year, Cllr Lupton said: "My biggest role was keep the coalition together and that authority running for four years. We had low council tax rises but there was a lot of preparation which has served us well. We knew there were going to be Government cuts and we had to have forward planning. I am proud of what we achieved."

Cllr Houchen said he was disappointed Cllr Lupton had stood down but said he would hold the current Labour-led council to account for its "poor track record" in the coming months ahead of next year's election.

Fellow Conservative for Yarm, Cllr Andrew Sherris, who was de-selected as the Conservative candidate for next year's council elections, criticised the appointment of Cllr Houchen. He said: "It would be preferable to have someone with experience and a proven track record.”