A TORY councillor has defected to the Liberal Democrats because of the way the Conservative Party is running Somerset County Council.

Stephen Gill, the county councillor for Bridgwater South, said he was disappointed with the way leader Ken Maddock and the Tories are running the council and criticised

On welcoming Steve to the party, the council's leader of the Lib Dems Jill Shortland said: "Steve is a man of principle, clearly motivated by a desire to help the people in Bridgwater.

"He is a strong voice who has always stood up for local people. This decision shows he feels he can better serve local residents by joining the Liberal Democrat group, and we are delighted to have him on board.

"The Liberal Democrats ran Somerset County Council as an excellent authority and Steve has simply become rapidly disenchanted with the way the Tory party are running it today."

Mr Gill, who was voted in as the county councillor for Bridgwater South in June as a Tory councillor, said that the amount of council money spent trying to find a new county council chief executive, the County Hall pay freeze and the closure of Sedgemoor Splash had all spurred him on in his decision to defect.

The Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Bridgwater, Theo Butt Philip, said: "It's clear that the Conservatives are letting down the people of Bridgwater.

"The Tory district council has closed the Splash without having provided an alternative. The Conservative Party isn't going to serve the interests of the people of Bridgwater."

Councillor Joe Leach, leader of Sedgemoor Liberal Democrats, welcomed Mr Gill to the party. He said: "Steve has always held the concerns of residents at heart, and is clearly a man of principle to make such a courageous decision to move from the ruling party. I wish him all the very best and look forward to working with him now and in the future for the people of Bridgwater."