Nock is chosen as Tory leader

The leader of Sandwell's opposition Conservative group has been toppled after the party lost two of its 13 seats in the council election.

Councillor Tony Ward was ousted last night as the party held its annual meeting at Sandwell Council House in Oldbury.

He will be replaced by Councillor Ray Nock, who today vowed a much tougher stance towards the ruling Labour group, which gained seven seats last Thursday.

Councillor Nock said the Tories had "a number of irons in the fire" and hoped to be able to present an alternative budget next year.

He said: "I am very honoured to be chosen to lead this party. We are very grateful to Tony for holding this party together over the years but we lost two seats and that shouldn't have happened. I think we got our campaign wrong."

Wednesbury North councillor Elaine Costigan was voted in as deputy leader.