TOP level meetings were talking place at East Hampshire District Council headquarters in Petersfield this week after the shock resignation of its Tory leader Ferris Cowper.

But Mr Cowper's so-called "resignation" is shrouded in doubt and secrecy amid claims that it was a political coup and he was instead ousted from the job while he was at the Conservative Party conference, in Manchester, last week.

For full story, see this week's Herald.