A power struggle is on the cards at County Hall after a breakaway group caused a hung council.

No party is in overall control after two Liberal Democrats left to form an Independent group.

Liberal Democrats James Gordon (Rayleigh south), and Edgar Davis, (Brentwood, central), have joined Chris Harper (Loughton St Mary), who sits as an Independent already.

The move means the Liberal Democrat/ Labour coalition loses county control and now has 38 members - the same as the Conservatives - and no group has overall control.

The three new independents members can now influence decisions at council. The leader of the administration group today accused the breakaway councillors of disloyalty.

Mervyn Juliff said he was disappointed the two councillors had failed to inform him of plans to form an Independent group.

Three months ago, the county swung from Tory control to a Lib/Lab alliance when Brentwood Tory, Alison Enkel, quit the party to become an independent.

Mr Juliff said: "The first I heard of it was a letter, they've decided to jump ship without telling anyone and I'm disappointed at their disloyalty."

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