The former leader of the city has launched his campaign to become the first directly-elected mayor of Leicester.

Ross Willmott, who stood down as leader of the city council in February in an unsuccessful bid to become an MP, has launched a campaign website setting out his campaign plan.

It went live after the council decided last month to swap the current leader and cabinet model for a powerful mayor chosen directly by the people.

Councillor Willmott said: "For the first time in the modern history of our city, the people of Leicester will have the chance to directly elect the city leader.

"One person will have a clear mandate from the people. This role carries huge privilege and responsibility.

"I believe my track record as leader of Leicester as a unitary authority gives me the experience needed for the role of elected mayor."

He will compete to become the candidate for the Labour party in a selection process, which is likely to be completed by late next month or early March.

The public vote for mayor will take place in May.

In Saturday's Leicester Mercury Review of the Year, Coun Willmott told how he felt Leicester needed a leader with vision, someone to take it out of cuts-ravaged despair and someone who can make big decisions.

Other contenders for the Labour nomination include current city leader Councillor Veejay Patel, former leader and now MP Peter Soulsby, and council cabinet member Councillor Abdul Osman.

Coun Willmott's website has a list of pledges, including a promise to bring more jobs to the city, creating extra housing for the elderly and vulnerable and creating a new City Gallery.

He also wants a push to create more new homes in the city, set up a Mayor's Fund giving people a voice in how it is spent, extend the cleaner city team to outer estates, and keep council tax levels low.

There have been fears raised by opponents of the elected mayor system that too much weight will be put on personality rather than policies.

Coun Willmott includes a list of top 10 facts about himself, detailing his love of jam-making, Star Trek and antique clocks and radios.

He also lists that he abseiled down the outside of the Leicester Holiday Inn for charity, learnt the rudiments of flying as an air cadet and flew a Hercules over Belgium, and says his favourite city after Leicester is Venice.

He said: "I am the only candidate with eight years' experience of running Leicester as a unitary authority.

"I led a team of Labour councillors to deliver real change and improvement. No other candidate has my track record of delivering for our city.

"From City Wardens and Clean Up Team to the huge regeneration of Curve and Highcross, creating thousands of jobs for local people. These are just some of the things I have helped to deliver with the Labour team."

The directly-elected mayor will oversee the council's 16,000 staff and balance the books on a £500 million budget.

Other potential candidates for the post include Tory group leader Councillor Ross Grant, Lib Dem councillor Hussein Suleman and businessman Rick Moore.