Conservative Chris Knight said he was “like a kid in a sweet shop” during his eight years as a Hampstead councillor and vows to eventually return, having stepped down last month.

The father-of-one, of Belsize Crescent, Belsize Park, has left the council to focus on his two property development businesses and give himself more free time.

He said: “As a councillor, the harder you work, the more successful you become. The more successful you become, the greater the number of people who come with their problems.

“It becomes a 365-days-a-year, 24-hours-a-day job. It just plays on your conscience a bit. I think it’s time for me to spend more time sorting out my own life and businesses.

“I’m 66 years old, I’ve got 10 good years until I start developing the kind of things that make you curl up.”

But his decision is more a sabbatical than a goodbye to the council chamber.

“I love this place which is why I have worked so hard in it,” he said. “Like a kid in a sweet shop, I’ve absolutely enjoyed every single minute.

“The richness of our residents in Hampstead is astounding and they’re all happy to give their time for free and join a command of soldiers to try to sort things out.

“Like Arnie Schwarzenegger in his film, I’ll be back. There’s a general election and Simon Marcus will win it so there may be a by-election in 2015 and I hope that sends a shiver down some of my opponents’ backs.”