READING'S Lib Dem leader is stepping down from his post.

Cllr Gareth Epps said he will not seek re-election as head of the borough council group on Monday so he can concentrate on his fight to unseat Reading East Tory MP Rob Wilson at the next general election.

The Katesgrove ward councillor has been in the job since Bob Green stood down a year ago and says under his leadership the Lib Dems have helped force an independent inquiry into school admissions, deliver much-needed cash for environmental crime enforcement, and opposed Whitehall taking one pound in every five paid by council tenants.

He said: "When I took over as leader, we were entering an uncertain and turbulent situation in Reading, with a new chief executive, and many new councillors replacing long-standing Labour opponents. The Liberal Democrat group has performed exceptionally well in that period.

"Now is the right time for me to focus on the growing and successful Liberal Democrat campaign to win Reading East. The Liberal Democrats stepped up campaigning activity and are the main challengers to the Conservatives in Reading East, in which Labour has lost 11 of the 17 council seats it had at the time of the last General Election."

Labour are running university lecturer Anneliese Dodds in Reading East, the Greens have picked long-time campaigner Rob White, and UKIP are running Craig Sanderland. In 2005, Rob Wilson beat Labour's Tony Page by 15,557 votes to 15,082. The Lib Dems came third, with 10,619.

Cllr Epps praised chief executive Michael Coughlin's work since he took over last year, and said he will carry on his own work as a ward councillor. The eight-strong Lib Dem group will elect a new leader on Monday.