Tories on Tendring Council hope to "expose the failings of a ramshackle coalition" by creating a shadow cabinet.

The Conservatives won 28 seats out of 60 at last month's district council elections - just three seats short of gaining overall control.

But now the other five groups have ganged up on them.

Former Tories flying the flag of Tendring First, the Labour party, Lib Dems and Independents joined forces and the Community Representatives party voted with the coalition despite insisting they are not part of a pact.

It has prompted the Conservative group to form a shadow cabinet.

Councillor Neil Stock, leader of the Conservative group, said: "We are seriously concerned by the guarantees given to secure the Labour group's support for the ruling coalition."

The Labour group joined the pact after getting agreement that ten points they brought forward would be acted on.

Detractors say the coalition is unethical and will not get things done while the parties who have signed up say the pact will work together to get agreement on issues.