Mr Richards has stepped aside from the leadership while he fights an assault charge.

Conservative Welsh Affairs spokesman Nigel Evans said the leadership election, which had been planned for November, may now be brought forward.

But he denied there was a split in the party, despite several Tory members expressing disquiet over Mr Richards' choice of Deputy Leader David Davies as caretaker leader.

Assembly Member Alun Cairns met colleagues to discuss leadership

They held an informal meeting last week following Mr Richards' decision to step aside, concluding that they preferred to appoint their own leader, rather than Mr Richards making the decision.

The meeting was attended by supporters of Nick Bourne - Rod Richards' key rival in the Tory Welsh leadership battle.

At the meeting were Mr Bourne and fellow assembly members Alun Cairns, Jonathan Morgan, Glyn Davies and David Melding.

But Mr Richards has played down any suggestions of turmoil within the party.

'A lot of support'

And in an interview with BBC Wales he spoke of support he had received since the allegation came out.

"I have had a lot of support, not just from my own group but from throughout Wales," he said.

Mr Richards, who is married with three children, has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm to Cassandra Melvin, 22, on 27 July, at Kew in west London.