HOW the political parties will work together is the key question after major gains for the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats at Labour's expense in Thursday's Redditch Council elections.

The Tories will now be praying for some co-operation from the Lib Dems, who for the second year running hold the balance of power in a hung council.

Though the Conservatives are the biggest party with 14 councillors, they fell one seat shy of taking overall control. If they had gained just 64 more votes in Lodge Park, they would have clinched power.

Overall, the Tories gained two seats, Labour lost four - leaving them with 10 councillors - and the Lib Dems gained two, giving them five councillors.

Among Labour's losers were long-standing councillor Ron Passingham and planning committee chairman Clive Cheetham.

Everybody will now have to wait for the council AGM on May 19 to discover how things will pan out in the year ahead.

Councillors will have to vote for a new council leader and depending on which way the Lib Dems swing, Labour could still retain that key post.

Councillors will also have to decide whether to choose an eight or nine-member executive and who will sit on it.

Labour leader David Cartwright was disappointed with the result.

Conservative leader Gavin Smithers agreed consensus would have to be found.

Lib Dem leader Diane Thomas was keeping tight-lipped about how the party would approach the coming year, though she has said previously she prefers a 'non-adversarial' approach to politics.