THE leader of Worcester City Council is battling to stay in control at the Guildhall - with his reign at risk of being the shortest in its history.

Last week's election results mean Councillor Marc Bayliss' official spell in power could last just over 11 weeks if he is booted out of office this month.

The dramatic count left his Conservative Party holding 17 of the council's 35 seats, with 16 belonging to Labour and two with the Greens.

Key members of his party have now urged him to give the possibility of a deal with the Greens one crack, ahead of the meeting to decide his fate on Tuesday, May 17.

Whichever new administration is formed then could spend two years running Worcester, as the city council has no elections in 2017.

Tory Councillor Roger Knight, the current Mayor of Worcester, said: "We're quite prepared to work with anyone for the good of the city.

"But what worries me is having two years without a vision for the city - I don't look at it (a possible Labour-Green deal) as a new, fresh council, I see it as something which would inhibit progress.

"It's very sad for Worcester - the way things are if we came up with new ideas, anything could be rejected.

"I'm not looking forward to it. It's not about the Conservatives or Labour, it's about what's good for the city.

"You need a strong, stable council for things to get done."

He added: "I don't see this as a fresh new hope for Worcester, more one of worrying indecision that hung councils traditionally bring. 

"Of course we should seek to work with whoever can help and assist in developing the very best for Worcester, bringing fruition to those things that best benefit Worcester residents, visitors and commerce. 

"The next election is two years away, meaning we are rather stuck with this unenviable situation."

Louis Stephen, the chairman of Worcester's Green Party and newly-elected to the Battenhall ward, said he wants time to "get things done properly".

"We're a democratic party and it's important I do things right," he said.

In the aftermath of Friday morning's results some members of Worcester Labour Party insisted it would take some time to get a clear understanding of the next step.

Its group leader Councillor Adrian Gregson spent one 12-month spell running the authority in 2013/14, the only time this century that the city council has been in their hands.

Councillor Joy Squires, the group's deputy leader, said: "There are interesting times ahead."

Councillor Bayliss, who has called the prospect of a Labour-Green deal "grubby", took over from Simon Geraghty after he was made the new county council leader in February.

If he is booted out under a 'no confidence' motion next week, his spell officially running the city council will have lasted 11 weeks and six days.

* Elections 2016: Shock Green and Labour surge sees Tories lose overall control of Worcester City Council

* LONG READ: Everything you need to know about Worcester's election results

* Election results 2016 at-a-glance in Worcester