Ross Willmott has announced his resignation as leader of Leicester City Council.

Councillor Willmott said he would be stepping down in the next few weeks to "focus on his General Election fight in North West Leicestershire".

The move came late last night at a Labour group meeting held at the Town Hall.

During nearly three hours of debate, a majority of the 38 group members voted to hold their annual general meeting (AGM) in March, instead of April.

It is believed Coun Willmott would not have had enough support from members to be re-elected as group leader in March because of his forthcoming election battle.

Speaking to the Mercury after the meeting, an emotional Coun Willmott said he supported the change of date of the AGM.

He said: "It's not tenable to offer myself as leader at the AGM on March 15.

"I'm not going to commit to doing it for another year if I'm standing for election.

"I don't know the formal process for resigning – I've never done it before – but it will happen before the AGM.

"I need to look at my responsibilities and commitments because you don't just walk away from them.

"It clears the way for a successor and frees up some time for me to focus on North West Leicestershire."

A Labour group source said the leader seemed "very upset" during the meeting.

Coun Willmott said he could not be replaced as leader until the group elected a replacement in March.

That person will be elected as leader of the council at a meeting on March 25, as Labour has a majority on the authority. Coun Willmott will remain as a backbencher.

He said at the meeting cabinet colleague Patrick Kitterick, in a speech, thanked him "for everything I had done in my role".

Last week, Coun Willmott was criticised by opposition councillors over his plan to take six weeks off on full pay while vying for election in the key marginal North West Leicestershire parliamentary seat.

Coun Willmott had said he would delegate his responsibilities for the six weeks to election day but still claim his allowance for being leader of the council.

He is entitled to claim up to £46,046 a year on top of the basic councillor allowance.

Earlier this month, he had said he would not step down from his post after his ward party, Rushey Mead, voted in favour of a mandate urging him to do so.

Coun Willmott was leader of the council from 1999 to 2003, then led Labour in opposition until 2007, when it regained power.