A coalition between the Green and Liberal Democrat parties at East Suffolk Council has been agreed - and they will be joined by the authority's only independent.

The Green/LibDem and Independent Group formed the official opposition at the council before this month's elections and has been revived - and this time they will be in power.

Green group leader Caroline Topping said the deal had been agreed with the Liberal Democrats and Independent councillor John Fisher from Saxmundham at talks on Tuesday.

The Greens have 16 councillors, the LibDems 11, and with Mr Fisher alongside them they have a majority of one on the 55-seat council.

The Conservatives, with 15 councillors, are likely to be the official opposition while Labour has 12 members in the new council.

Ms Topping said: "We have renewed our previous coalition but we won't take power until the full council meets next Wednesday.

"The Labour Party won't be joining us in the Cabinet but we will be offering them some committee chairs - including the chair of the scrutiny committee which is normally an opposition post."

She said she knew that operating a council with such a small majority would be a challenge - but was hopeful they would be able to get an agreement most of the time.

She said: "One of our members has broken a bone while on a short walking holiday in Yorkshire. We've got to work out how to get her back to next Wednesday's meeting but we do have a week to sort it out!"

The first meeting of the new council will be next Wednesday evening at its offices at Melton, near Woodbridge.

Once that has taken place Ms Topping will be the second - and possibly the third - Green Party council leader in Suffolk.

Mid Suffolk is set to confirm Andy Mellen as new leader next Monday and Babergh council meets on Tuesday but it is still not clear who will lead that authority.