A SECOND Thurrock councillor may be about to jump his independent ship and join the borough's Conservative ranks.

Just days after Allen Mayes announced he would be joining the Tories, Thurrock Nub News understands that Stanford-le-Hope councillor Shane Ralph is on the brink of a similar switch from the Independent Group.

Like Cllr Mayes, Cllr Ralph was elected in May last year and is in his first term of office.

Cllr Ralph, who represents Stanford East and Corringham Town, serves on four committees, including the Orsett Hospital Task & Finish Group.

He is a well-known figure in the Stanford community and played a key role in the establishment of Hardie Park as an improved facility for local residents and has undertaken some challenging and innovative fundraising ventures for local good causes - including a 'prison break' that saw him tackle his fear of flying and end up in Sweden and a car drive around the coast of Britain.

Cllr Ralph, who has notified colleagues of his possible defection, declined to comment when asked about the potential switch but has not denied it may happen.

The Stanford East and Corringham Town ward has a history of changes of allegiance. In 2015 Cllr Colin Churchman quit UKIP, who he had been elected to represent, and rejoined the Tories. He was rewarded with a 'safer' seat in Aveley and Uplands at the last election, while Cllr Ralph stepped in to win the vacant post in Stanford & Corringham.

At that election, Roy Jones a former UKIP and Thurrock Independent group founder member, stood as the Conservative candidate but was beaten into second place by Cllr Ralph who received 812 votes, to Mr Jones' 709.