Conservative former cabinet minister Sir Eric Pickles has joined the list of MPs who have said they will not be standing again in the general election.

Sir Eric announced on his social media sites that he would not be the Tory candidate for Brentwood and Ongar, the Essex seat he has held since 1992.

In a letter informing Cllr Mark Reed, chairman of the Brentwood and Ongar Conservative Association, that he will not stand he wrote:

"Thank you for invitation to stand as the Conservative Candidate for Brentwood and Ongar at the General Election.

"It has been an enormous honour to represent the constituency for twenty-five years, Brentwood and Ongar is a wonderful place to live.

"Throughout that quarter of century, I have enjoyed success and some setbacks, but have always been sustained by the friendship back home in the patch.

"This was particularly true when public office either as member of the Shadow Cabinet in opposition, Party Chairman or Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government kept me away from the constituency.

"The warmth of local support was always a source of great strength. I have served in elected office, either as a councillor or a member of parliament for just short of forty years, starting with the wonderful Margaret Thatcher up to and including Theresa May.

"I strongly believe that it is in the national interest for Theresa to receive the clear endorsement of the British people for her difficult task of removing this country from the EU. She has proved to be a great PM and has my full support in the coming campaign.

"I had intended the present parliament to be my last one, and I am grateful for the invitation to serve a further five years.

"After much heart searching I have concluded that now is the right time for Brentwood and Ongar to have a new representative in Westminster. Accordingly, I do not wish to have my name put forward as a candidate.

"The next MP for Brentwood and Ongar will have my enthusiastic support."