EAST Hampshire District Council was said to be "in turmoil" after its Tory leader survived a vote of no confidence by the narrowest of margins.

Tory leader Ken Moon survived by the skin of his teeth in a night of the long knives scenario after weeks of rumour that his party was plotting against him.

Mr Moon survived by a single vote at the meeting of the Conservative group on the district council.

Nineteen of the 39 Conservative councillors are believed to have voted in favour of the no-confidence vote, just one short of the 20 needed to proceed with a leadership contest.

Liss councillor Jennifer Gray declared: "Had it been a leadership contest Mr Moon would have lost."

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