FIVE councillors who were suspended from Ukip have resigned from the party.

The councillors were suspended by the anti-EU party two weeks ago after they formed a breakaway Ukip group on Tendring Council.

Nine Ukip councillors originally joined the new Tendring Ukip group but, just one week later, four of them decided to return.

The remaining five were suspended by national party chairman Steven Crowther, but they have now resigned and renamed their group Coastal Independence.

“We were suspended from the party after forming our own group, but the five of us have now officially resigned from Ukip,” said the group’s leader Mick Skeels.

“The main reason we left is down to the squabbling and infighting. Nobody would listen to what we wanted to do – it was unbelievable.”

Mark Stephenson, chairman of the official Ukip group, said: “I’m glad they are no longer using the name Ukip, as it was very confusing for residents as to who they were. I look forward to seeing what they call themselves next month.”