The leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has resigned.

A statement from the council says Alan McDermott (Con), councillor for Brenchley and Horsmonden, stepped down on Sunday and a new leader of the council will be appointed this Wednesday.

Cllr McDermott admitted it had been a tough two years in charge, dealing with the impact of the coronavirus health crisis.

"It has been a very, very difficult two years with Covid," he said.

"The amount of hours I was putting in last year was unbelievable.

"I think, in all honesty, if you go to any borough council leader, they will say the last year or two years has been the hardest they have had.

"I decided the best thing I could do was to stand aside.

"But I enjoyed what I did."

It comes after the Conservatives failed to secure the 10 seats they needed to retain overall control at the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council elections earlier this month.

They remain the biggest party on the council, with exactly half the seats, but secured only 37% of the overall vote, meaning no party holds overall majority.

It means a deal needs to be struck somewhere but this still has not yet been done.

Cllr McDermott says Tom Dawlings, the new head of the Tory party, has attempted to arrange to meet the other three party leaders to strike a deal, a claim denied by Tunbridge Wells Alliance leader David Hayward, with negotiations all set to continue during this week's council meeting.

"I decided the best thing I could do was stand aside..."

Cllr McDermott said: "We thought they had it all arranged but they decided they didn't want to do it.

"I feel they missed out a bit there.

"They want to wait until the full council meeting on Wednesday."

After last week being appointed the new Tory leader, Cllr Dawlings, who represents Benenden and Cranbook, said he contacted the leaders of the Tunbridge Wells Alliance, Labour and the Liberal Democrats on Thursday morning.

He said: "I got an early indication they wanted a meeting.

"Then, on Friday, I got an email, saying they didn't want to meet."

Cllr Dawlings also says he wants to look at improving the refuse services in the area.

But Cllr Hayward, a councillor for Pembury, said: "We have desperately been trying to get a response from Alan."

He says he feels all opposition parties are united in wanting what is best for the area.

"We are all interested in what's best for the people of the borough and the people of the borough."

"All the opposition wants what's best for the borough," he said.

"There is no in fighting amongst us.

"It's not going to be Alliance-led, Labour-led or Lib Dem-led.

"We are all interested in what's best for the people of the borough."

"Tunbridge Wells Borough Council members will be electing a new leader at the annual meeting of the full council on Wednesday, May 26," a council statement read.

"This late addition to the agenda comes after councillor Alan McDermott resigned from the post on Sunday, May 23.

"Councillor McDermott was elected leader in May 2019.

"In accordance with the council’s constitution, the new leader will be elected for a four-year term.

"Nominations for the new leader will be proposed at the council meeting on Wednesday.

"Following elections earlier this month, there is currently no overall control in the council with Conservatives and opposition parties holding 24 seats each."

Last August, Cllr McDermott survived a leadership challenge at the Conservative AGM, beating off competition from Cllr Paul Barrington-King.

Read more: All the latest news from Tunbridge Wells