Eastleigh Council's Labour group has been rocked by the defection of 43-year-old Councillor Angela Roling to the ruling Liberal Democrats.

Turning her back on being a "Blair Babe" she said: "I am very sad that the Labour Party I joined many years ago has changed out of all recognition.

"Decisions are centralised in the hands of Mr Blair and a small number of London-based politicians."

The former Labour branch secretary and constituency treasurer was elected as an Eastleigh West ward councillor in May 1998 as Angela Light but has reverted to her maiden name following her divorce.

Her defection strengthens the Lib-Dems' grip on the council. They now have 29 seats, Conservatives nine and Labour six.

But, crucially, it will reinforce the ruling group's position on the knife-edge Eastleigh Local Area Committee which, before her move, was tied at six Lib-Dems and six Labour members.

Council leader Keith House said: "Angela's decision further demonstrates that Labour is a spent force in Eastleigh politics. She will add strength to our team."

Labour group leader Peter Luffman hit back by revealing that as long ago as last October, Cllr Roling had been asked to answer a number of concerns about her ability to properly represent her constituents.

Complaints included her failure to attend council meetings and group meetings, a failure to contribute to the casework of her ward, non-attendance at residents' association meetings and not taking part in canvassing.

Councillor Luffman added: "This is not sour grapes. We can prove we were not happy with her performance. Angela has always been the weak link in the group. To my knowledge I don't think she has spoken at a full council or a local area committee meeting."

He said he doubted if she would have been re-selected as a candidate by members of the Labour Party and believed one of the reasons she had left was because she knew that.

But Cllr Roling said: "Last year I was ill. I'm a diabetic and switched from tablets to insulin. If they (the Labour group) had asked me to do something for them I would have done it."

She added that she had found it difficult being a new councillor and felt the support given to her by the Labour group had been lacking while the Lib-Dems has impressed her with the way they ran the council.

"I feel more comfortable with the Lib Dems and will probably be better able to carry out my duties as a councillor."

Eastleigh Local Area Committee chairman Steve Sollitt said: "Angie has often been prepared to be an independent voice on local issues around the town."