The Wirral Conservative group has chosen a new leader, who says his number one policy is to protect the borough's green belt.

Cllr Tom Anderson, who represents Greasby, Frankby and Irby, was unanimously elected by the Tories' 23 Wirral councillors to lead the group.

Cllr Anderson takes over from Cllr Jeff Green, the previous leader, who led the party to a net gain of one seat at last week's local elections, after the Tory candidate defeated Labour in the Pensby and Thingwall ward.

Cllr Green is set to take up the position of deputy mayor following the council's annual meeting next week.

But Cllr Ivan Camphor's victory in Pensby and Thingwall last week, plus three Green Party gains in the east of the borough, means Labour is now four seats short of a majority on Wirral Council.

Labour now has 30 councillors, while the Tories are on 23, with the Liberal Democrats on six, followed by the Green Party on five and two Independent councillors.

Reflecting on his election, the Greasby, Frankby and Irby councillor said: "I am humbled to have been chosen to lead Wirral's Conservative Group.

"I would like to pay tribute to my predecessors, Jeff Green and Ian Lewis, for their steadfast service to Wirral."

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service earlier today, Cllr Anderson made his key pledge on the upcoming Local Plan, the document which is likely to set out proposals to build around 12,000 homes in Wirral over the next 15 years.

The Local Plan is set to go before the council within the next few months.

The Conservative leader said: "We have a group meeting in a couple of months to discuss a plethora of policies, but the Local Plan is an immediate [priority], to ensure that the greenbelt is protected.

"We want to make sure that a brownfield only building policy is adopted."

Shortly before the local elections, the Wirral Labour group put out a blueprint Local Plan in which it also pledged to adopt a brownfield only building policy and protect the borough's greenbelt.

Cllr Anderson was also keen to discuss the borough's route out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He added: "We want to support the recovery from the pandemic, making sure that high streets and small businesses are supported.

"The government has given Wirral Council more than £200m to support us through the COVID-19 crisis and we need to ensure that this money is spent for those in need."

On the subject of what role the Conservative group will play in deciding whether Labour's Cllr Janette Williamson remains as council leader after councillors get the opportunity to vote for who they want to lead the authority in an upcoming annual meeting, Cllr Anderson kept his cards close to his chest.

The Tory leader said: "The results at last week's election were clear, no one party got a mandate to govern alone.

"Next week the council elects its leader and we want to discuss the options openly and work constructively with other parties."