DISTRICT Conservatives have lost one of their youngest councillors to UKIP, having been told the Tory-led government is 'elitist'.

Former Teignmouth mayor Cllr James McMurray, who holds seats on both the town and Teignbridge councils, quit the party despite being a member since he was 16.

On Tuesday he was introduced to a UKIP meeting in Bath and hailed as one of its hopes for the 2015 general election.

Cllr McMurray said: 'This was not a decision that was taken lightly.

'I have been involved in the Conservative Party for nearly 20 years. However, I have become increasingly disillusioned with a party that does so little to support the aspirations of working families.