A former Tonbridge Grammar School student has received another boost to her bid to take over from David Cameron as leader of the Conservative Party.

Energy and Climate Change minister Andrea Leadsom has today been given the backing of former leader Iain Duncan Smith.

He said she was the "right person to lead" the forthcoming negotiations.

Yesterday Mrs Leadsom overtook Michael Gove as second favourite to succeed from the Prime Minister, after he announced he was resigning in the wake of the EU referendum.

William Hill bookmakers slashed the odds on her being chosen, putting her second favourite behind Theresa May.

Boris Johnson ruled himself out of the race, in a shock move on Thursday.

Mum-of-three Mrs Leadsom was born in Buckinghamshire and attended Tonbridge Girls Grammar School in Deakin Leas before going on to read political science at Warwick University.

She was elected the Conservative MP for South Northamptonshire in 2010, following a 25 year career in the finance industry, and promoted to her current ministerial role last May.

The Leave campaigner said her priority was securing Brexit in line with the democratic mandate and to make the most of the opportunities the come with independence from the EU.

She said: "The reason I have put in my nomination papers is that I see a huge opportunity from the result of the referendum.

"Britain, the United Kingdom, can be so much better in the world.

"The future for our children and grandchildren will be so great but what we have to do now is all pull together and make that opportunity a reality."