A COUNCIL leader who has quit because of breast cancer has told how messages of support have comforted her.

Sue Pitts, who has been at the helm of Durham City Council since May last year, when the Liberal Democrats won a landslide victory over Labour, announced on Monday she would step down.

The mother-of-two, a councillor for 21 years, is due to have surgery after screening showed she had breast cancer.

She said: "People have been tremendously kind. I have had cards, messages and flowers from people. I have had a tremendous amount of support and good wishes."

Councillor Pitts, who has been group leader since the late 1980s, will continue as a councillor for Elvet ward but felt she could not carry on as council leader.

She said it was "awful" to step down when everything was going well but felt the council would go from strength to strength under her successor.

He is Fraser Reynolds, 59, who served on the council from 1984 to 1996 and was re-elected at the last election.

Coun Grenville Holland will continue as deputy leader and an appointment will be made soon for the environment and community development portfolio.