Another councillor has joined a breakaway political party at the council, the group's leader has claimed.

The 'Redbridge Independent Group' was formed by three former Labour members at the weekend after they quit in protest at the party's leadership.

The head of the trio, Loxford ward representative Cllr Filly Maravala, now claims that independent councillor Harold Moth has also today joined.

Cllr Moth is a former Conservative councillor who was expelled from the Redbridge group in August 2012 after he rowed with party colleagues, although he remains a Tory Party member.

He previously resigned before rejoining the Tories to stand in the 2010 election.

Cllr Moth, who has been a councillor for more than 34 years, was unavailable for immediate comment this evening.

Cllr Maravala told the Guardian: "We welcome him to our new party and I hope others from all other parties will also join us.

"I'm sure that we can back him on his campaign for more toilets in Barkingside and he can back our initiatives in Loxford on tackling prostitution."

With reference to Cllr Moth's divergent political views, Cllr Maraval added: "We will support each others views where possible without conflict."

The two other former Labour councillors in the group are Virendra Tewari of Loxford Ward and Balvinder Saund of Seven Kings.

They accused their former party's leadership in the borough of complacency, a lack of strategic direction and dictatorial attitudes.

But Labour leader Cllr Jas Athwal said the trio had "put their personal ambition ahead of the concerns of residents".

A total of five Labour councillors have resigned from the party since May 2010, leaving the Labour Group with 21 councillors.

The Conservatives have 29 councillors while their coalition partners the Liberal Democrats have seven.

There are now six independent councillors, including Ali Hai who stepped down from the Labour Group last year.