A councillor from Ormskirk has been suspended by the Labour Party after being arrested on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children.

Ormskirk-born Terry Brookes, who was a member of Thurrock Council in Essex, was arrested last month.

Mr Brookes says he resigned to "prove [his] innocence and protect the Labour Party" and that he "didn't want to drag anyone else into it".

Essex Police have confirmed a 58-year-old man from Grays had been arrested on July 20, and released on bail until December.

My Brookes said he had not been charged, but confirmed to BBC Essex he had been arrested and said the police "carried out a full search of [his] house".

In July, Mr Brookes was sacked publicly as the cabinet member for public protection by Thurrock Council Leader John Kent after he failed to attend two meetings where he was required to answer questions related to his portfolio.

His home in Grays, which is owned by his wife, is up for sale.