Only one candidate has been nominated for the leadership of Brighton and Hove City Council.

Councillor Simon Burgess, 41 and a father-of-two, is the favourite to take over the helm next month following the resignation of Ken Bodfish.

The Labour Party's internal deadline for nominations for the leadership is midday tomorrow.

Deputy leader Sue John had been expected to throw her hat into the ring but told The Argus on Monday she would not be contesting the leadership for personal reasons.

Her announcement means that, barring any surprise nominations before tomorrow's deadline, Coun Burgess is likely to be uncontested when full council votes on who it wants to take over at a meeting on February 23.

Other parties could oppose him and put forward their own candidates at that meeting but Coun Burgess said that was unlikely to happen.

Coun Bodfish, who has led the city council for six years, announced last week he would be leaving the top job on February 1 to chair new Sussex Partnership NHS Trust, which will be responsible for specialist services for mental health, learning disabilities and drug abuse across the county.

From then until February 23 when the new leader takes over, Coun John will be in charge.