A local Conservative MP has criticised Gordon Brown's controversial decision to scrap plans for a snap election.

The prime minister told the BBC on Saturday that he will not be calling a general election this autumn - a move which disappointed Totnes MP Anthony Steen.

Mr Brown said he wanted a chance to show the country his "vision for change" and to "develop his policies further".

"I'll not be calling an election. I have a vision for change in Britain and I want to show people how in government we're implementing it," Mr Brown, speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr, said.

Anthony Steen, Totnes MP: "I was extremely disappointed not to have an opportunity of persuasively flouncing both Labour and Liberal Democrat candidates in the Totnes seat."

"Over the summer months we've had to deal with crises, we've had to deal with foot-and-mouth, with terrorism, with floods, we had financial crises.

"Yes, we could have had an election on competence and I hope people would have understood we have acted competently, but what I want to do is show people the vision we have for the future of this country in housing, health and education.

"And I want the chance in the next phase of my premiership to develop and show people the policies that are going to make a huge difference and make a change in the whole country itself."

Mr Steen criticised the PM's decision. He said: "I was extremely disappointed not to have an opportunity of persuasively flouncing both Labour and Liberal Democrat candidates in the Totnes seat.

"Labour because they have been a terrible disappointment to the electorate which started off with such high ideals and aspirations and are now limping along with a flawed PM.

"The Lib Dems because they are the past masters of playing politics, but quite incapable of actually delivering on anything.

"Our local party organisation was rearing to go. But now I know how the troops would have felt when the Duke of York marched them to the top of the hill and down again."

Tory leader David Cameron said Mr Brown's decision showed "great weakness and indecision".

"The PM - having marched his cabinet to the top of the hill - has now lost his nerve and is marching them back down again," Mr Cameron said.

Mr Steen has been the MP for Totnes since 1997. He was previously the MP for South Hams between 1983 and 1997.