A COUNCIL leader at the centre of an investigation by Kent Police has resigned.

Cllr Kenneth Leadbeater, Conservative leader of Dartford council, has been answering questions in a police probe into computer-related crime, said to be linked to child pornography.

He announced on Monday that he had resigned his council post with immediate effect.

In a statement he said: "Leading a council like Dartford is hugely satisfying but the role carries enormous responsibility and places great pressure on anyone called to do it.

"I have relished the challenges of the job for some years now and have worked alongside some enormously talented colleagues and officers but it is time to step down to concentrate on other things."

Police officers had arrived at the council leader's home in Sutton-at-Hone on Mondauy of last week and he attended a police station voluntarily where he was interviewed.

He has not been arrested or charged in connection with any offences.

Mr Leadbeater, 50, was twice leader of Dartford Borough Council, first in the early 1990s and for the second time after the local elections of 2003.

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