THE timing of Paul Middlebrough's election to Wychavon District Council could not have been better for Peter Luff.

It allowed him to break the news of a Tory gain from the Liberal Democrats to Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith first hand.

Said the Mid-Worcestershire MP: "I was having supper with Iain, along with my fellow whips, when my phone started to ring.

"I knew what the call was about, so I went outside to take the call. When I came back in, I was delighted to be able to say 'Good news, leader...'"