THE Conservative group on Waverley Borough Council has lost three councillors within a week, with UKIP emerging as the official opposition after one member defected to their ranks.

Another councillor who resigned the Tory whip is now officially an Independent, while a third has quit Waverley altogether because of family commitments abroad, sparking a by-election in the Farnham Wrecclesham and Rowledge ward.

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