The Conservatives have lost their overall majority on Essex County Council after a shock resignation.

Brentwood county and parish councillor Alison Enkel decided to stand down from the Conservative group - the day before she stands in the local parish elections.

Mrs Enkel, who represents Brentwood Rural on the county council, says she no longer feels she is being supported by her party.

She is now standing as an independent in today's parish council election in Kelvedon Hatch, near Brentwood.

Mrs Enkel said: "I have been feeling disillusioned and out of step with the Conservative Party for over a year now. I have felt obliged to remain a Conservative member through a misplaced sense of loyalty and a feeling that things could only get better.

"Unfortunately things only got worse."

Mrs Enkel said she has been disappointed by decisions made by the party at a national level.

"I feel I have not received support at county - quite the opposite," she added. "I feel I cannot represent my electorate properly as a Conservative member."

A spokesman for Essex County Council said yesterday: "We can confirm that she has resigned from the Conservative group and we are looking at how it will affect the political make-up of the council."

Following Mrs Enkel's departure, the Conservatives now have 38 seats at County Hall, Chelmsford, Labour 24, Liberal Democrats 15 and there are now two independents.

Chairman of Brentwood and Ongar Conservative Association, Brandon Lewis, said: "It was with sadness that we received notice of Alison Enkel's resignation from the association.

"We know that this has been a difficult year for her personally and for her family, so we are particularly sympathetic to the emotional turmoil she currently feels.

"We hope, when she has had time to reflect on her decision, she may reconsider her resignation and rejoin the Conservative Party and the county council Conservative group."

Conservative group leader Lord Hanningfield said: "Alison has played an active role in the group and we regret her decision."

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