A COALITION group has taken control of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council from the Labour party.

The council will be ruled by Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and Independents.

Before elections Labour was in charge of the council, but suffered setbacks and lost overall control.

It takes 30 councillors to form a majority on the council. Labour had 23 seats, Liberal Democrats 15, Conservatives 13 and the new East Cleveland, Eston and Marske Independents 8.

Further details on the coalition will not be announced until the authority's annual meeting, to be held at Eston Town Hall at 2pm tomorrow.

Councillor Keith Pudney, the newly appointed deputy leader of the Labour group, declined to comment until full details of the ruling group were in place.

However, he said the election result was "less than we could have hoped for".

It is thought there may still be debate surrounding the way the council leader is appointed.