A NEW leadership team at the top of Worcestershire County Council can today be revealed - as Simon Geraghty triumphed to become the Conservative's new boss.

A secret Tory ballot has taken place at County Hall for the controlling party to select its new group leader and deputy, with Councillor Geraghty being unopposed.

Your Worcester News can also reveal how Councillor Anthony Blagg has been elected deputy Tory group leader - a vastly experienced politician now promoted as his sidekick.

The outcome follows the shock arrest and drink drive charge of Adrian Hardman, who is quitting as leader.

A full meeting of the county council is taking place this coming Thursday where the duo will now be voted in as County Hall's new leader and deputy leader respectively, with the outcome a formality as the Tories hold 33 of the 57 seats.

This morning's result is the biggest personal victory in Councillor Geraghty's career, who entered politics in 2000 aged just 23.

The 39-year-old has also confirmed he will now quit as Worcester City Council leader to take over at County Hall, an outcome this newspaper revealed was on the cards last week.

Councillor Geraghty, who will spend the weekend devising his new strategy, said he was "very proud" of the elevation.

"I'm very proud to have received the unanimous support of my group," he said.

"Worcestershire continues to face a huge number of challenges - and we as Conservatives will continue to meet those challenges, and will carry on fighting for the very best deal for the residents of Worcestershire."

The promotion of Councillor Geraghty, who has been deputy leader of the authority for five years, has already led to calls from the opposition Labour group to lobby Whitehall for more cash.

Councillor Peter McDonald, Labour group leader, said: "I hope Simon and his new cabinet will get straight to the Government to reduce the cutbacks going on.

"Adrian Hardman didn't do that and it's got to stop - services have been crippled for too long, that's my approach to him."

Councillor Blagg is a web publisher and topiary expert and has held the role of cabinet member for the environment at County Hall, as well as representing a seat in Bromsgrove.

Councillor Geraghty will have one vacant seat in his cabinet to deal with, but has warned against a significant re-shuffle of his senior team, with the existing cabinet-level politicians set to stay largely in their current roles.

But it is not yet known who will resume control of the finance brief, a role done by Councillor Hardman.

The current changes come at a crucial time for the authority, which will next month vote on its 2016/17 £327 million budget, including a four per cent rise in council tax.

Councillor Hardman's five-year spell as leader has collapsed after his arrest and charge for drink driving three days before Christmas in Tewkesbury.

The 59-year-old will appear at Cheltenham Magistrates on Monday, January 18 and says he will plead guilty, calling it a "gross misjudgement".

* Councillor Geraghty closing in on Tory group leadership - see our report from earlier this week HERE.