Wolverhampton City Council's chief executive has announced that he is leaving the post after a decade of service to replace his counterpart on Lambeth Council.

Derrick Anderson described his new job in the capital as an irresistible opportunity, but admitted that he would be leaving the West Midlands with "a very heavy heart".

Mr Anderson said: "It has been an enormous privilege to serve the people of Wolverhampton during a major period of change and regeneration.

"I have grown to love this city: it's been my home, as well as my professional life and preoccupation for 14 years.

" Wolverhampton is a uniquely resilient and warmhearted city that has had the vision and single-mindedness to transform itself after decades of recession.

"I'm very proud of the role the city council and its dedicated and hard-working staff have played in that transformation."

The council's leader, Roger Lawrence, said: "Derrick has made a great contribution to the city as chief executive for the last ten years and prior to that as director of leisure.

"I have personally enjoyed working with Derrick and I know he will be missed."