WEST Sussex Conservatives have announced Paul Marshall will be the new leader of the county council.

Mr Marshall, who represents Storrington, was elected group leader at a meeting on Monday and will take over the leadership at a meeting of the full council on Friday.

While the majority, including outgoing leader Louise Goldsmith, offered their congratulations, Labour leader Michael Jones said Mr Marshall had been given a “poisoned chalice”.

Mrs Goldsmith resigned as leader on October 4, the day a report was leaked suggesting the authority should lose control of its children’s services department.