DAVID Cameron is to quit as one of the Cotswolds' MPs, he announced today.

The former Prime Minister has decided to step down from his seat in Witney, Oxfordshire, triggering a by-election.

Mr Cameron, who resigned as PM after June's EU referendum, said he did not want to be a "distraction" for Theresa May.

The 49-year-old also said his replacement had "got off to a cracking start".

Mr Cameron, who has represented Witney since 2001, became Conservative leader in 2005 and PM in 2010.

Speaking in his constituency, he said it had been a "great honour" to be an MP for the area, but said it would be difficult for him to remain on the backbenches without becoming "a big distraction and a big diversion" from the work of the new Government.

He denied his announcement was related to the government's moves towards allowing new grammar schools, a policy he rejected while inside Number 10.

Mr Cameron won a 25,155 majority in 2015 in Witney, which has been held by the Conservatives since 1974.

He said he had not made any "firm decisions" on what to do next, adding that he wanted to continue to contribute to public life.