A petition with more than 40,000-signatures has been delivered to Downing Street

Leicestershire MPs and Conservative council leaders have delivered a petition signed by more than 40,000 local residents opposing plans for local government reorganisation and the proposed expansion of Leicester City.

Dr Luke Evans was among the  six MP's  who went to Downing Street today to hand over the petition.

The petition opposes Labour's plans for changes to local government across Leicestershire, as well as proposals to expand Leicester City's boundaries.

Dr Luke Evans MP says the Government has now paused the process and ordered a review, after previously insisting the plans were right.

He questioned why ministers had stopped and reconsidered the proposals if they were confident they were the right approach.

He also thanked residents who signed and shared the petition, attended protests, contacted councillors or helped raise awareness of the campaign.

Dr Evans says the pause is not the end of the campaign, and that he will continue to push for greater transparency, evidence to support the proposals and for local communities to have their views heard.