Cambridgeshire's police chief yet to make re-election decision

A leaked email claimed Sir Graham had already decided not to stand for reselection

Cambridgeshire's police and crime commissioner says he is "considering whether or not" to stand for re-election after a leaked email suggested he would be stepping down.

Sir Graham Bright says he will make his "final decision" at the Conservative party conference next month.

The BBC has seen an internal party email to activists announcing he will not be their candidate next time.

Sir Graham said "the gift" of his selection was "not in my hands".

The email said Sir Graham had "decided he does not wish to stand for reselection as the Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Commissioner".

It added the party was "keen to attract more potential candidates".

'Funding challenges'

In a statement, the former MP said "despite the rumours that are circulating" he had yet to make a decision.

He said: "I have informed the party of this position and advised them that if I decide not to stand they will need to run a full selection process.

"Whether or not I decide to stand, the party will need to have a pool of potential candidates to select from.

"They are, therefore, currently identifying potential candidates."

Sir Graham recently announced the closure of a police station in Peterborough.

In his annual report for 2014-15 he said despite a year of "tough funding challenges" he had balanced the budget while protecting front-line services.

The former MP was parliamentary private secretary to Prime Minister John Major.

He was elected in November 2012, beating Labour's Ed Murphy after second preference votes were counted because neither candidate managed to get 50% of the votes.

Turnout across the county was 14.77%.