When they do, it is usually for taxis.

In all, the party is in control of 10 local authorities nationwide, including Staffordshire. Elsewhere in the Midlands, it has a majority on Warwickshire and Worcestershire.Durnell on Sunday tried to clear up a seeming contradiction between the words of two newly-elected councillors.

Owen Cleary, who took the Worcester seat of Warndon & Elbury Park for Reform, told the BBC following his win: "We don't have any intention of making alliances."But in a separate interview, the party's chairman for Warwick and Leamington, Nigel Clarke, said: "We've always said on a local level we're happy to work with the Conservatives."Durnell insisted: "There's no contention there."

He said Reform would especially have to work with other parties in areas such as Warwickshire and Worcestershire, where it had the most seats but not outright control."But," he added, echoing Reform leader Nigel Farage's words during an appearance

, "that doesn't mean to say that we're not also here to replace the Tory party as the Opposition."

Appearing alongside Durnell was Max Wilkinson, the Liberal Democrat MP for Cheltenham, who suggested his party might be the one to overtake the Tories.Hornsea Inshore Rescue (HIR) said there had been "sewage overflow events" since 01:00 GMT.

Yorkshire Water has apologised and said "storm overflows operate to relieve pressure when there are periods of heavy or prolonged rainfall".Sue Hickson-Marsay, from HIR, said she was disappointed at the cancellation but public safety came first.

"If someone did get poorly, which there is the possibility when things like that happen, then it's not going to sit well with us," she said.The dozens of people who turned out in their swimming gear were instead treated to a "hosedown party" and were sprayed with water from a fire engine.