The leader of Worcestershire County Council has confirmed he will step down from his role after being caught drink-driving.

Cllr Adrian Hardman - who was caught drink-driving by police on 22 December in Tewkesbury – admitted he had made a ‘gross misjudgement’ and would be standing down as council leader later this month.

In a statement, cllr Hardman said: ‘Drinking and driving was a gross misjudgement on my part and I would like to apologise. In doing so I have fallen short of the standards that I set for myself and those that I expect from my fellow Worcestershire County Councillors.

‘I will therefore be standing down as leader at the next Full Council meeting on January 14th.

He added he would be pleading guilty in court when he appears at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on 18 January.