THE Conservatives have seized control of a North Yorkshire authority after two councillors switched allegiances.

The Tories clinched overall control of Harrogate Borough Council on Wednesday night after welcoming former Liberal Democrat supporters and latterly Independent councillors Alan Skidmore and Les Ellington.

The council was trumpeted as a flagship Liberal Democrat authority after the party swept the Conservatives aside to take power in 1990.

In 1997, leader Phil Willis went on to defeat ex-Chancellor Norman Lamont to become MP for a new-look constituency. It no longer included parts of the Vale of York, which remained true to the Tories by voting in Anne McIntosh.

But the political pendulum began to swing back in 2000 when the Conservatives made their first significant gains on the local council for a decade.

By 2002, the balance of power depended on which political grouping a single Independent councillor decided to support.

Both Coun Skidmore and Coun Ellington quit the Lib Dems earlier this year to become Independent members of the borough council but have now aligned themselves with the authority's Conservative group.

"I have come to recognise the enthusiasm and determination by the Conservatives to put in place worthwhile and progressive policies," said Councillor Skidmore.

"There exists a willingness to listen and accept that the borough consists of many different and diverse groups, locations and needs."

Councillor Ellington said: "I decided to enter into a political alliance with the Conservatives because it gives them the opportunity to progress their plans and aspirations which I believe will benefit the whole of the district and, in particular the rural areas."

Tory council leader Mike Gardner welcomed his party's new allies.

But Liberal Democrat leader Geoff Webber accused them of "going with the wind".

"This is nothing more than ebb and flow of politics," he said. "We may have lost some fringe members who were only ever on the periphery of the party but we intend to fight hard to regain lost rural seats next May.

"There are no district council elections in 2005 but I think there will be a real push to win back control of the urban wards the year after that."

The Conservatives have 29 seats, the Liberal Democrats 21, and the Independents four.