Four Ukip councillors in Thanet have quit the party, it emerged tonight.

The resignations follow a row a few weeks ago in which the four said they had lost faith in the leadership of Chris Wells because of the lack of progress in the decision over whether to try and force a buyout of Manston airport.

The four include Beverly Martin, Helen Smith - who was sacked recently from her cabinet post by council leader Chris Wells - along with Ash Ashbee and Konnor Collins.

The four are now listed as independents. They are claiming that they are leaving the party over “disablism” – prejudice against disabled people.

However, it is reported that they are concerned over Manston.

The departures leave Ukip with a majority of just one, with Ukip holding 29 seats out of 56.

In a forthright statement, the leader Chris Wells said he was relieved they had gone.

“It is with some relief that I hear today of the resignations of four members of the Ukip group at Thanet District Council.

"This group have been engaged as a ‘party within a party’ for some weeks and have been a disruptive and noisy influence in their endeavours.” - Chris Wells

"This group have been engaged as a ‘party within a party’ for some weeks and have been a disruptive and noisy influence in their endeavours.”

“I thank them for their brief time as UKIP councillors and regret their decision to abandon the manifesto they were elected on in favour of personal aggrandisement and media hype.

"I, and Ukip, utterly reject any suggestion that there was any discrimination towards Cllr Collins.”

The resignations come at a difficult time for the first Ukip-led council in the country as it wrestles with a decision on whether to go for a compulsory purchase order for Manston airport.