Ukip councillor Philip Hyde has resigned from the party and will now sit as an independent.

Cllr Hyde was elected in Heaton ward at last year’s council elections, and lost out in the race to become Ilford North MP last month.

The move will see Ukip reduced to six councillors, while Cllr Hyde will be the only independent councillor among the borough’s 54.

The remaining members of Ukip are leader Cllr Lawrence Webb, Cllr Patricia Rumble, Cllr Philip Martin, Cllr David Johnson, Cllr Ian De Wulverton and Cllr John Glanville.

When approached for a comment, Cllr Hyde said he had “no interest” in speaking to the Recorder because it “treated his party unfairly” in last month’s elections.