The Liberal Democrat contender to become Hertfordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner election has withdrawn from the race for “personal reasons”.

Ron Tindall was unveiled as the party’s candidate for £75,000-a-year position in July but still had to be confirmed by his party.

A senior county Lib Dem said Mr Tindall, who is a county councillor in Hemel Hempstead, stood down before his confirmation.

Stephen Giles-Medhurst , the leader of the Hertfordshire County Council Liberal Democrat group, said: “He decided not to put himself forward. He withdrew before he was to be confirmed for personal reasons.”

The move will come as blow to the Liberal Democrats' campaign to take the commissioner post and the party says it hopes to have a new candidate in place by the end of the month.

The election to decide who will be Hertfordshire’s first police commissioner is due to be held on November 15.

Mr Tindall’s decision means that currently only Labour and the Conservatives have candidates standing in the ballot.

The Watford Observer tried to contact Mr Tindall but he was unavailable for comment.