AN action group in Malvern is within two seats of seizing control of the town council - before a single vote is cast.

Details of candidates for elections on May 1 show Malvern Town Action Group is guaranteed to gain at least nine seats when the new council is formed.

The group has already indicated it will review the future of the council's £600,000 offices on Belle Vue Terrace and work to cut costs and reduce the Council Tax.

MTAG has emerged amid concerns over the cost of the office project and the substantial rise in Council Tax.

The group has also received a further boost in North Malvern, where the only non-MTAG candidate said she did not want anyone voting for her.

Patricia Dodson, who is standing as an "opposed to war" candidate, said commitments as a full-time carer would prevent her from fulfilling the role of a councillor.

Assuming she is not elected, and even if all other non-MTAG candidates are successful, the group would still hold 10 out of 20 seats.

Five of the current members of the council are standing down.

MTAG's Adrian Ward said the nomination list was "encouraging." He identified cutting the council's precept and administration costs as key aims for the group.

"The costs have gone up and up while the service provision has, if anything, been reducing," he said.

Unlike the majority of parishes in the district, all Malvern Town's wards will be contested.

The current Malvern Mayor, Frances Victory, who is standing as an independent in the Chase, said she was delighted to see so many candidates come forward, irrespective of their political leanings.

"It shows people care about the town," she said. "If they've got the courage of their convictions and get the electorate to come out and vote, then that's great.