ESSEX: Lord Hanningfield resigns as leader of county council

Essex County Council leader Lord Hanningfield has resigned after being charged under the theft act.

The charges are the latest development in the ongoing expenses scandal.

He is being charged with six counts of falsely claiming for overnight stays in London hotels even though he had been driven home.

The charges relate to episodes between March 2006 and May 2009.

Lord Hanningfield has also resigned from his position as Front Bench spokesman in the House of Lords.

A county council spokesman confirmed this afternoon: "Lord Hanningfield has stepped down from his position at the council."