Three Tories who quit their party group have returned following a change in leadership, it emerged today.

Worthing Borough Council has officially been hung since the trio resigned from the group at the beginning of February, crucially shifting the balance of power to the Liberal Democrats.

But the return of Simon Craghill, Jason Smith and David King means the borough council is now back under Conservative control.

The group's majority has been restored, with 20 councillors facing down the 16 Liberal Democrats.

Originally the three resigned in protest at attempts to oust fellow Tory Andrew Garrett.

Councillor Garrett had been in conflict with the then group leader Tim Dice over modernisation issues. The two had also clashed in the past about the future of tourism in the town.

But Tim Dice stepped down as leader of the troubled group in the same week as the mass-resignation.

Under the new leadership of Brian Lynn, the rebel Tories have been wooed back to the group.

Councillor Craghill said: "We were asked to rejoin and we felt there had been a lot of changes within the group that made it acceptable for us to come back.

"We left because the environment was such that we did not feel it was possible to work effectively for the town. Under Brian Lynn's leadership we feel the environment is much more positive and now we feel we want to come back.

"I am very pleased about it. I feel very comfortable about being back in the group, and there feels to be more purpose to it now. It is very difficult to get anything done if you are not in the majority."

Brian Lynn said he was delighted by the return of the trio. He said: "We are now back up to our full strength of 20 members and we are all going to be working together now."