Bradford Council leader Margaret Eaton today resigned after six years at the helm.

She has also stood down as leader of the authority's Conservative group a position she had held for more than a decade.

Coun Eaton announced her decision after Labour made significant gains against the national trend in last week's Council elections.

But in an exclusive interview with the Telegraph & Argus, Coun Eaton (Bingley Rural) stressed that she had made up her mind to go before the election was held.

Her decision to step down as leader but not as a councillor leaves a power vacuum both for her group and the Council.

Labour group leader Ian Greenwood, whose party now holds the most seats on the hung Council with 36, is firm favourite to become the next Council leader, provided he can thrash out a suitable power sharing deal with the other political groups.

And Tory deputy leader Kris Hopkins told the T&A yesterday that he is bidding to step up to head his group when it holds its annual meeting tonight.

Councillor Eaton who was awarded the MBE three years ago for services to the communities of Bradford and local government became Bradford's first woman council leader six years ago.

She said: "I have decided to stand down from the leadership of the Conservative group.

"Having led the group for 11 years and the Council for six years, I feel that now is the time to step down from this high-profile and demanding position.

"My decision has not been made in the light of any likely challenges to the position but was made prior to the recent local government elections.

"I am confident that had I chosen to continue the group would have supported me.

"During my time as leader the Conservative group has grown from being a small minority party to being in a position to run the Council.

"The last six years, while the Conservatives have been running the Council much has been achieved and we have a great deal to be proud of."

The Labour group is also holding its annual meeting tonight but Coun Greenwood (Little Horton) said he was not expecting a leadership challenge.

He confirmed power-sharing talks with the other political groups would follow his group's leadership decision but he stressed Labour wanted to run the authority.

Coun Greenwood said: "It is clear to us that the people of Bradford have voted for the Labour Party in large numbers and the arrangements of the Council will have to change to recognise that.

"We believe that the last few years the Council has been mired in inactivity and unwillingness to address serious issues."

The Liberal Democrats group, which is the third largest party on the Council with 14 seats, opened the floor up for nominations for its leadership contest yesterday.

Nominations close on Wednesday and the leadership will be decided at its annual meeting next Monday.

Group leader Jeanette Sunderland (Idle & Thackley) admitted she did not know if she would retain control.

"It's all a question of whether or not somebody nominates me over someone else," she said.

Among the challengers could be the group's vastly-experienced Councillor David Ward, who was re-elected last week in the Idle & Thackley ward in his 22nd year as a councillor.

Coun Sunderland speculated that Labour might side with the Tory group, which holds 33 seats after losing four last week, to divide up the main responsibilities.

She said she believed Labour had propped up the Conservatives under Coun Eaton's leadership when major decisions had to be made.

She said: "There is actually a pact between the Tories and Labour.

"The unitary development plan, the strategy and the Council budget are all Labour and Tory decisions.

"We are not likely to overturn all the decisions that we have voted against."

Coun Hopkins (Worth Valley) praised Coun Eaton's leadership record but felt the time was right for him to try to become the group's next leader.

He said: "Margaret has done an exceptional job. I have learned a lot from her."

Coun Hopkins said he now wanted to try to develop his group's policies.

"I think I have got more to offer and put myself forward to build on the positive work already achieved," he said.

The Green group, which holds four seats on the Council, is also likely to play some part in any deal over who runs what.

But the British National Party, which now only has two seats, has been told by the three major groups that it will be frozen out of the power-sharing talks.