NIGEL Holdcroft looks likely to be crowned leader of Southend Council by the town's Tories.

The Conservative group, still reeling from the loss of leader Murray Foster, is holding a private meeting to elect a new frontman or woman.

Mr Holdcroft only returned to Southend Council a year ago, but within three months he had been given the post of deputy leader.

Now, with Mr Foster losing his Prittlewell ward seat in Thursday's elections, he is looking the favourite for the top job.

Fellow cabinet member Sally Carr has backed him.

She said: "In my opinion, I don't think there will be a challenge to Nigel Holdcroft.

"Nigel has my total, undivided support."

She added she was considering putting herself forward as deputy leader, but was still "reflecting upon what would be best for the party".

Cabinet member Brian Kelly said he knew of four or five possible candidates, but would not reveal any names.

However, he hinted at deputy leader Mr Holdcroft's election as being one likely outcome.

He said: "People might think the obvious thing to do is to elect the deputy leader. That's what happened last year.

"When Anna was defeated last year, deputy leader Murray Foster took over.

"Whether that will happen again, I don't know. It might."

Former leader Anna Waite, who was unseated from the Prittlewell ward at last year's elections, but who returned to the council last Thursday to represent St Luke's, refused to say whether she intended to stand as leader again.

She said: "Those at the meeting will be the people to whom I make my intentions clear."

Mr Holdcroft, a solicitor specialising in civil litigation, was a member of Southend Council in the 1990s, holding senior posts before standing down because of family commitments.

Within weeks of his return last May, he was elected as both deputy leader and executive councillor for social services.