Top councillor Simon Cooke said his "lapse of judgement" left him unsure about whether he would be able to remain as a local politician.

But he said he hoped he would be judged on nine years' work in the district, which until yesterday had culminated in him becoming second in command at the country's fourth largest metropolitan authority.

Coun Cooke now describes himself as "contrite" and says he deeply regrets the incident which caused so much controversy.

The Bingley Rural councillor said: "As is often the case with remarks we regret, they are done in the heat of the moment and not in any considered way.

"What I said was unacceptable but was a response to what I felt had been said.

"I have caused some problems, I have embarrassed my party. This is intended to demonstrate that I am genuinely contrite."

Despite the troubles of the last few days Coun Cooke still has hopes of standing for re-election in June, and says he would be happy to serve on the back-benches.

"I have a number of local party meetings coming up and nothing has changed," he said.

"At this moment I am still a Conservative candidate and I hope the party will set the work I have done for the last nine years above this one lapse in judgement.

"I was elected as a ward councillor, it is still one of the most important jobs, and I would like to think that people know that I care about Bradford and making it a better place."

Coun Cooke remains in a position of some power, holding on to Bradford Council's portfolio for corporate and regeneration issues, albeit for just a few weeks before the elections.

But he believes he has the support needed to carry out that important role. "It is important that we have somebody doing the job for the next couple of weeks. It would have been wrong for me to just walk away.

"I have had a great deal of support from all sorts of people from colleagues in the Council and other people.

"I have also had a number of messages of support from people I have worked with outside the Council and that is a comfort to me."

One of those now offering his backing is Derek Green, constituency chairman of the Shipley Conservatives. Mr Green said: "I am sorry to hear the news because he has done so much work in Bradford and he is an honourable man.

"Simon can be complimented in taking the honest decision and resigning, but it is such a shame after all the work he has done.

"I cannot think there is anyone of us who has not deeply regretted saying something.

"It is such a shame he has had to take this action."

Conservative group leader Councillor Margaret Eaton said her party was now preparing to move on, though no decision has yet been made on a replacement.

She said: "I am very saddened because Councillor Cooke has a tremendous contribution to make, but he has made an error of judgement and is having to live with the consequences.

"But it is business as usual now that he has made the decision."

She said no decision had yet been taken on who would replace Coun Cooke as deputy leader of the party and of the Council.