Lindsay Whittle, new Plaid Cymru AM, quits council post

Plaid Cymru's Caerphilly council leader is to step down from the post after being elected to the Welsh assembly.

Lindsay Whittle said the leader's job was full-time and as an assembly member he would not be able to give it the attention it deserved.

Mr Whittle, who had been leader since 2008, was elected to the assembly on the South Wales East regional list.

"I'm very proud of Plaid's record in Caerphilly," he said, calling for a seamless transfer to a new leader.

"As a Caerphilly-boy it has been an immense privilege serving the people of the county borough as council leader."

Mr Whittle, who will remain a backbench councillor, said he would stay in his post until a replacement was elected.