Paul Davies has been announced as the winner of the Welsh Conservative leadership election.

The Preseli Pembrokeshire AM enjoyed a resounding victory over South Wales West AM Suzy Davies in the contest to succeed Andrew RT Davies who quit as leader of the Welsh Conservative group in the Welsh Assembly this summer.

The victorious Davies claimed 68% of the vote of party members and Ms Davies, who had been the party’s Brecon and Radnorshire candidate at the 2007 Assembly election and 2010 general election, just 32%. Turnout was 52%.

Prime Minister Theresa May congratulated Mr Davies, who has been interim leader since June, on his victory. She said: "I warmly congratulate Paul Davies on his election as leader of the Conservatives in the Welsh Assembly, and look forward to working with him and the rest of our team as they hold Labour’s failing Welsh Government to account.

“There has never been a more vital time to do this, and I know that Paul will do a fantastic job speaking up for the Welsh people.”

Mr Davies said: "“I am humbled to have won the support of so many MPs, AMs, councillors, activists and grassroots supporters from across Wales.

"This campaign leaves the Welsh Conservative Party in a stronger position having had this period of debate, but most importantly, I am proud that this campaign has been entirely positive and based on the issues that matter.

"Suzy Davies fought an optimistic and forward-looking campaign, and I look forward to working closely with her, and the rest of the Welsh Conservative team, over the coming months and years.

"By working together as a united party and offering a coherent vision of what our country can achieve, the Welsh Conservatives are Wales’ best hope of ending a generation of uninterrupted Labour rule in Cardiff Bay."

Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns MP said: "I’d like to extend my congratulations to Paul Davies, the new leader of Conservative Group in the Assembly and my commiserations to Suzy Davies who fought a great campaign across Wales. Suzy will continue to play a key part in the Assembly group and the Welsh party."

Mr Davies leadership bid was supported by Powys councillors Claire Mills, Dan Rowlands and Gwynfor Thomas, Monmouthshire councillor Mat Feakins, who is a member of the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, and former Mid and West Wales Conservative AM Lisa Francis and former Brecon and Radnorshire Parliamentary candidate Dr Felix Aubel.

Though the position was determined by a ballot of party members Mr Davies is only the leader of the Conservative group in the National Assembly and there is no leader of the Welsh Conservative Party. During the campaign both candidates said they believed the position should be recognised as the party leader in Wales in the same way Ruth Davidson is the Tory leader in Scotland.

Suzy Davies, who attended Brecon High School’s sixth form, said: "The prize here is much bigger than this contest – it is a Wales for the future, not a Wales of the past. I congratulate Paul and wish him well. He has my personal support in our march forward.

"I am profoundly grateful to those who voted for me but I know they understand, even in a competition like this, we are all on the same side."

Plaid Cymru currently has a leadership election in which Adam Price and Rhun ap Iorwerth are challenging party leader Leanne Wood while the Labour leadership contest, which will determine who succeeds Carwyn Jones as First Minister, will officially launch later this month and the winner announced in December.