THE LEADERS of the main political groups in the Forest of Dean together with the Independent group leader have had talks to discuss the way ahead for the district council following last week's election.

They are expected to meet again before the annual meeting of the council on May 22.

The council is now 'hung' with no clear majority for any party.

The Conservatives made their best ever showing in the Forest. They had 14 gains taking their total number of seats to 17. In contrast the Labour Party had a grim poll and lost 12 seats.

Among them Anne Martin, the former Labour leader of the council, went down at Tidenham and council chairman David Clarke was unseated at Lydney.

Though the Tories have the highest number of seats they do not have enough to run the council – the Labour, Liberal Democrat and Independent total is 31.