A LIBERAL Democrat/ Green alliance has seized power on Malvern Hills District Council.

Thursday's shock election result saw the Liberals win 19 of 39 available seats, an increase of nine on their previous total.

The ruling Conservative group won just 13 seats, losing control of the council after just one term. The poll leaves just two Conservatives left in Malvern town.

The Liberals immediately brought Green councillor John Raine (West) on board to give it a majority of one.

Liberal leader Tom Wells (Powick) said some of the five independent candidates may also join forces with them.

However, he pledged his party would work together with opposition councillors no matter what their allegiances.

"I'm conscious there's talent and experience across the council irrespective of party, and I'm determined we're going to use it," he said.

He added that the party will now examine the feasibility studies on the move to a single site headquarters to assess whether it is in the public interest.

He also promised to examine potential sales of property or assets with a view to raising enough money to fund a sports hall.

Ian Hopwood, one of three Tory councillors to lose their seats in the Link ward, said: "It's not sour grapes, but my gut feeling is that if Malvern complains about murals on walls and fountains, the electorate only have themselves to blame."

Clive Smith, a former chairman of MHDC and one of the Liberals to take the Link seats, said the greatest challenge for the party is yet to come - that of delivering their manifesto to the electorate.

Conservative leader Reg Farmer, who fought off a challenge from a Liberal Democrat candidate in his Lindridge seat, said: "I'm very disappointed with the overall result. I felt that the last council was well managed by the Conservative/Independent group. We had worked hard on the finances and got the Council Tax down."

He said he was puzzled as to exactly why the Conservatives had done so badly, but was determined to stick to the policies advocated before the election and fight back.

"Our policies are sound," he said. "We will re-group, we will look at the situation, find the problem and do something about it."

Among the familiar faces defeated at the poll was Alex Stewart-Cleary in Chase ward, who was a member of the Conservative administration's ruling inner cabinet.