THE political future of East Ayrshire Council will be thrashed out this week - with two solitary Conservative councillors holding the keys to power for the leading parties.

After another tense local election the SNP emerged as the leading party with 15 councillors, one more than Labour, but without the majority needed for outright control.

Councillor Douglas Reid - who led the SNP administration with the backing of the Tories for the last five years - is currently in talks with elected Conservative candidates Tom Cook and John McFadzean in a bid to strike another deal.

If they accept Reid can form an administration with a majority of 17 in the 32-councillor local authority.