Just five weeks ago his party leader denied he would be standing in a by-election if an "absent councillor" stood down.

But yesterday the Conservatives announced Andrew Wealls would be their candidate for the poll in Hove's Goldsmid ward after all.

The news came as Brighton and Hove City Council set the date for the by-election as Thursday, July 23.

Council leader Mary Mears, who heads the controlling Conservative group, yesterday stood by comments she made in May that Mr Wealls was not being prepared for any by-election.

She issued that denial after Mr Wealls featured in a series of Conservative leaflets distributed in the Goldsmid area, which stretches from Sackville Road to Seven Dials.

At the time Paul Lainchbury, a councillor for the ward, was facing criticism for failing to attend committee meetings and residents' group gatherings.

Councillor Mears had denied allegations made in Private Eye magazine that he wanted to resign and she had blocked him from stepping down.

Mr Lainchbury resigned from the council on Thursday, saying problems in his private life had made it difficult for him to dedicate the necessary time.

His announcement coincided with huge Tory gains in county council elections across Britain.

Mr Wealls was announced as the Conservative candidate in a letter on the party's website this week.

Speaking about the denial, Coun Mears said: "That was absolutely factual then. That was the situation. Paul wasn't going and Andrew was an action team member featured because he was working in the area."

She added that Mr Wealls was an excellent candidate who had worked hard in the ward and knew it well.

The by-election is expected to be fiercely contested because it could change the balance of power at the council.

The resignation has left the Conservatives with 25 seats but they are regularly supported by independent Jayne Bennett.

Labour has 13 seats, the Greens have 12 and the Lib Dems two.

Voting in the Goldsmid ward was close in the last council elections, with Mr Lainchbury and Ayas Fallon-Khan claiming two of the three seats for the Conservatives and Labour's Melanie Davis taking the third.

Mr Wealls' appointment was publicised in an open letter to Goldsmid residents from ward chairman Sue Ellerton.

It said: "Andrew has been working hard with Ayas on projects regarding local housing, refuse and recycling and parking issues in the ward and I commend him to you as a tireless supporter of residents' interests."

UKIP has also revealed it will make a bid for its first Brighton and Hove City Councillor.

Former Talk Sport radio presenter Mike Mendoza will stand for the party.

He previously served as a Conservative on Brighton and Hove City Council and an Independent on Adur District Council.

Last week he stood unsuccessfully in the West Sussex County Council elections as UKIP's candidate in the Saltings ward and will contest the next General Election for the party in the Hove constituency.

Labour have previously announced Lis Telcs as their candidate, the Green party has picked Alexandra Phillips and the Liberal Democrats have selected Lawrence Eke.