Tributes have been paid to David Cameron after he announced this afternoon that he will step down as Witney MP with 'immediate effect'.

In a statement released this afternoon, Mr Cameron, said he will do "everything he can" to help the Conservative candidate win the election.

He said: "In my view, the circumstances of my resignation as Prime Minister and the realities of modern politics make it very difficult to continue on the backbenches without the risk of becoming a diversion to the important decisions that lie ahead for my successor in Downing Street and the Government.

"I fully support Theresa May and have every confidence that Britain will thrive under her strong leadership.

"It has been an honour to serve the people of Witney and West Oxfordshire for the last 15 years.

"I want to thank them for making the job of representing them such a pleasure and a privilege."

Mr Cameron's former election agent and the former leader of West Oxfordshire District Council Sir Barry Norton said the former Prime Minister wanted to spend more time with his family.

Sir Barry said: "As the former-Prime Minister sitting on the back benches you are alays going to be questioned about what the government is doing.

"I think he wanted to avoid those sort of accusations if he could.

"I understand he feels that since he became leader of his part and Prime Minister that he has had a long time where he has not been able to spend as much time with his children as he would like.

"He feels if he stands for another term then he would have missed most of their early years.

"He was sad to go, it is never easy.

"He has been a great MP and he says he plans to stay in the local area."

Sir Barry added he did not believe Mr Cameron has any jobs lined up.

Mr Cameron has held the seat in Witney since 2001 and his decision to step down comes two months after his resignation as Prime Minister following a defeat in the EU referendum.

At the time of his resignation as Prime Minister, Mr Cameron said he was "very keen to continue" as MP for Witney, which he has represented in the House of Commons since 2001, and said it was "very much my intention" to seek re-election in 2020.

But his shock announcement today shows a change of heart.

Oxfordshire County Council leader Ian Hudspeth would not be drawn on whether he would stand in the by-election to fill Mr Cameron's seat.

He said: "I have worked with David Cameron since 2000, before he was an MP and I have helped him in every general eleection.

"He has been a superb local MP and even when he was Prime Minister he would still keep his eye on the constituency and look after resident's issues however minor they might have been compared to the international issues he was dealing with.

"It will be a very difficult position to follow him as an MP.

"I am sure there will be a lot of local interest in the role."

Me Cameron confirmed he would not be moving away from West Oxfordshire.

He said: "Our house in Dean is the place Samantha, my children and I call home, and that will not change.

"I will continue to support the local causes and charities that mean so much to me and many others in this beautiful and enterprising part of our country.

"I now look forward to a life outside of Westminster, but hope to continue to play a part in public service and to make a real and useful contribution to the country I love."

Since the news broke this afternoon, supporters tweeting out their disappointment in his decision to step down.

More to follow.