Michael Gove has been eliminated from the race to become the next Conservative Party leader after the second round of voting.

The result means the final round of the contest to succeed David Cameron will be fought between Andrea Leadsom and Theresa May.

Whoever wins will become only the second female Prime Minister in the UK's history after Margaret Thatcher.

The ballot was decided by Conservative MPs, only 46 of whom voted for justice secretary Gove - two down on his tally of 48 in the first round of voting.

Andrea Leadsom received 84 votes while Home Secretary and frontrunner Theresa May received 199 votes.

Gove said he was "naturally disappointed" to be voted out of the race but called the remaining two candidates "formidable politicians", adding whichever of them won would "lead the country well".

Speaking outside Parliament, he said: "I'm naturally disappointed that I haven't been able to make it through to the final round of this leadership contest.

"But let me first of all congratulate both of the candidates who have made it through - both Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom are formidable politicians and they have fought great campaigns and they deserve to be in the final two.

"And there's one thing as well which is important, significant, and I think actually welcome.

"Whoever the next prime minister of this country will be, it will be a female prime minister and a female prime minister who has formidable skills and I know whichever one of the two wins they will lead this country well.

"It's now up to the Conservative Party and indeed the wider country to assess the skills, the abilities and the leadership potential of these two candidates."

Gove added: "I hope over the course of the next few weeks we will have an opportunity to have a debate about the direction in which the country should go, which will be civilised, inclusive, positive and optimistic."

He also tweeted a thank you message to his supporters.

Responding to her emphatic victory, Theresa May said she was "delighted" with the result, and claimed it showed she could unite her party.

The Home Secretary said: "I am delighted to have won so much support from my colleagues. This vote shows that the Conservative Party can come together - and under my leadership it will.

"I have said all along that this election needs to be a proper contest. And now it is time for me - and my team - to put my case to the Conservative Party membership.

"That case comes down to three things. Because we need strong, proven leadership to negotiate the best deal for Britain as we leave the European Union, to unite our party and our country, and to make Britain a country that works not for a privileged few but for every one of us.

"Those are the things my colleagues have voted for in overwhelming numbers today, and I am confident they will win the support of our members - and the support of the country as a whole."

Liam Fox was knocked out of the first round of voting while work and pensions secretary Stephen Crabb dropped out of the race, meaning their votes were distributed in the second ballot of MPs.

The Conservative Party's 150,000 members will now decide the winner of the final run-off, with the new leader due to be announced on September 9.