POLITICAL battle lines have been drawn after a breakaway group of East Hampshire district councillors has given a dire warning of a "destabilised district council" hell bent on "tuning the clock back."

Conservatives Hilary Ayer, her husband Bob and Pat Seward, the former chairman of East Hampshire District Council crossed the floor of the council chamber at the annual meeting last week.

The move was triggered by Grayshott's Ferris Cowper winning a vote to became the new district council leader.

The way was made clear for Mr Cowper to take over the reins for the second time within the last four years when Ken Moon was forced to resign, following an almost six month bitter campaign to oust him from power by some members of the Conservative group.

For full story, see this week's Liphook Herald.