AN action group protesting against council tax hikes in Malvern has seized control of the town council.

The Malvern Town Action Group took 11 seats to hold 17 out of 20.

The group has vowed to review the future of the council's £600,000 offices on Belle Vue Terrace and reduce council tax costs.

Group leader Keith Philips said it was obviously very happy with the outcome but not completely surprised.

He also admitted he was nervous while waiting for the results on election night.

"We were hopeful but not over-confidant," said Mr Philips.

"But we were confident in the fact that the electorate in Malvern wanted us to produce the results."

"We had every expectation and every hope to win."

He said the group would get down to the business of reducing council tax precept and administration costs but warned it would mean reducing costs in other areas.

"We have many ideas as to how this will be done and we will be outlining them in a couple of weeks."

The group has been performing strongly in elections since 2001 when 93 per cent of the 3,300 people polled in Malvern voted that all town councillors should resign.

Seven councillors did resign and as a result the group won all seven seats.

In the next two years they won a further 10 seats.