CHANGES are afoot at the head of the Redditch Council Conservative group after Councillor Gavin Smithers was voted in as deputy leader in place of Councillor Pat Wilson.

In a secret ballot at the town hall in Alcester Street on Thursday, the 10-strong group also re-elected Councillor Carole Gandy as leader.

Mrs Wilson was deputy leader of the group for the past two years and before that led it for about 20 years.

Meanwhile, secretary of the Conservative group, Jack Field, has also announced he and group colleague Councillor Ken Kenney have been invited to a Buckingham Palace garden party in July on behalf of the council.