Merton Conservatives have named their third leader in three months following a shock leadership election last night.

Councillor Oonagh Moulton has been named the groups' new leader after their former leader, Councillor Richard Hilton, ward member for Lower Morden, called a leadership election last week.

Coun Hilton took up the position just six weeks ago after his predecessor Councillor Debbie Shears resigned from the post in March.

This morning Coun Moulton tweeted: "I am delighted and honoured to announce I was elected Group Leader of the Merton Conservative Group last night - statement later."

Explaining his decision to call a leadership election last week, Coun Hilton said: "I was elected unopposed six weeks ago, as were both our previous leaders.

"But following the local election results last week, which saw the Conservatives take a hammering while UKIP raced up the polls, I want to offer our group a chance to vote me in again on a truly Conservative agenda I intend to push until our elections in 2014."

Messages posted on Twitter suggest deep divisions within the Merton Conservative Group.

Councillor Rod Scott, who represents tweeted last night: “I’m supporting Cllr Richard Hilton for leader of Merton Conservative Councillors Group! Forward with good tory policies not back to failure.”

He later added: “Merton Conservative Councillors tonight. We hit the iceberg! Lifeboats launching!”

Following the election Councillor Suzanne Evans, who was Coun Hilton’s deputy leader, said: "It's no secret I was backing Cllr Richard Hilton as leader of the Conservative Group so I'm sorry he's no longer be at the helm.

"He did the honourable thing calling a leadership election to get backing for his strong Conservative policies and it's a great shame the group has rejected them."

She added: "He's a man of enormous talent, impressive business experience, tenacity and charisma and I don't doubt for a moment that his time will come."

In response to the apparent divisions, Labour Councillor Peter Walker said: “It’s a reflection of what’s happening to the Conservatives nationally.

“They are being destroyed by the danger from UKIP. I think they are more interested in fighting each other.

"What’s happening on the council is that the other three parties are watching astonishment.”

He added: “I think there was a lot of respect for Debbie Shears and then it’s just sort of descended into some kind of anarchy.

“I would be very interested in seeing how many of the existing Tory councillors decide to run as UKIP candidates.”

Leader of Merton Liberal Democrats, Councillor Iain Dysart, said: "Taken at face value, this suggests long-standing and deep divisions within Tory ranks.

“The public do not like divided parties, or trust them to govern when they're too busy fighting each other!

"And whilst they go through their machinations, who exactly is in charge?"