INDEPENDENTS have become the official opposition group on Waverley Council after the youngest member of the council resigned the Conservative whip, declaring himself "under-valued as a backbencher".

The defection of Sam Pritchard, 24, who represents Weybourne and Badshot Lea, has boosted the Independents' numbers to four, placing them ahead of the Liberal Democrats on three.

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