Two Conservative Colwyn Bay councillors have defected to UKIP and will contest seats for the party in the Conwy Borough County Council elections in May.

David and Lindsay Griffiths, currently both members of Colwyn Bay Town Council, represent Llandrillo yn Rhos and Eirias wards.

Cllr David Griffiths said there were several reasons for his move to UKIP and he has been impressed with the determination and ambition of the party.

He said: “It is clear that the future lies with a party determined to keep the nation state, its heritage, heart and culture and which embraces all races and creeds.

“Locally, the effects of the EU have produced a fragile economy and the Plaid Cymru leader of Conwy County Borough Council even faced legal action for failing to pay his own council tax.

“From what Lindsay and I have seen and have experienced of UKIP, members are much more involved in local decision making processes.

”The members are valued whereas, in the local Conservatives, many members feeling isolated from the heart of the party.”

The pair were welcomed to their new party by Neil Hamilton, UKIP group leader in the Assembly, and North Wales AM Michelle Brown.

In her resignation letter to the Conservative Party, Mrs Griffiths wrote: “The Conservative Party locally is clearly not ready for a newly free Britain, despite the best efforts of its Brexiteers.

”We look forward to working within UKIP to increase local council representation and expand our AM base in Cardiff.”