DURHAM City Labour MP Gerry Steinberg plans to stand down at the next election.

Mr Steinberg, 57, who has represented the city since 1987, revealed his intentions at a constituency party meeting at the weekend.

The timing of the announcement gives the party the chance to choose a successor and reduces the possibility of a candidate being 'parachuted in' by national officials.

The father-of-two, whose first grandchild is due in May, said: "It's about time. I want to look forward to doing something else because I have been involved in politics for 30 years. It was a difficult decision and I could have gone on. There was no pressure from the party.''

He added that by announcing his retirement now, the local party would have control over his successor's selection process.

Mr Steinberg was born and brought up in the constituency and was a teacher, finishing his career as headmaster of Whitworth Special School in Spennymoor. He was a Durham city councillor from 1976 to 1987 and was Labour group secretary in 1980/81.

Labour regained control of the council in 1983 from a coalition of Liberals, Independents the Tories and SDP and has been in charge ever since.

The city's previous MP Mark Hughes had a majority of about 1,800 but Mr Steinberg increased it to 6,125 in 1987 and to 22,504 when Labour returned to power in 1997.

He was a member of the Education Select Committee for nine years and has served on the powerful Public Accounts Select Committee since.

Mr Steinberg said the successes of his career included helping in the realisation of the Millennium City complex, the Prince Bishops Shopping Centre, the new University Hospital and the arrival of the Passport Office in the city. He is a strong supporter of proposals to outlaw hunting and recently accused the Government of being 'gutless' for suggesting a system of hunt licensing.

He has entered the fray during planning wrangles in the city, particularly when residents have opposed new pubs, and he spoke out against a judge's decision to overturn local magistrates' refusal to grant a licence for the Australian theme pub planned for the Robins Cinema.

Unlike many of his colleagues in the Commons he has embraced new technology and his web site has been praised by the Institute of Economic Affairs.

Party secretary Matthew Teale said: "He is obviously very well-respected within the constituency. He is on very good terms with members, those he agrees with and those he disagrees with. He has done a great deal and will be missed very much."