Cannock Chase district councillor Linda Whitehouse, who represents the Rawnsley ward in Cannock, has now followed two other district councillors and one parish councillor who made the switch from the Conservative party last week.

She said: "As a local businesswoman operating from Hednesford I have become increasingly disillusioned by the way the Tories have tried to get us out of this recession which we can thank the spend, spend, spend Labour government for.

"I truly believe this country should have an immediate referendum on the EU and for some time I have been impressed by the way UKIP as a party has been progressing. UKIP have the policies I now want to support."

"UKIP is gaining momentum and is attracting members from the Labour party, from the Tories and from the Liberal Democrats. UKIP is listening to local communities."

Last week district councillors John and Ann Bernard left David Cameron's party for UKIP, together with parish councillor Alan Dean and his wife Margaret.

The group is setting up the first Cannock Chase branch of the UKIP party, which is led by Nigel Farage. They have citied high-profile controversies such as HS2 and the controversial so-called 'bedroom tax', which means people have to pay for having one or more spare bedrooms in their homes, as part of the reason behind their dissent.

Councillor Dean said the 'final straw' for him was Norton Canes and Heath Hayes Primary Schools becoming academies .

UKIP MEP for the West Midlands Mike Nattrass said: "I can now confirm that district councillor Linda Whitehouse has defected to UKIP.

"The Tories are imploding in Cannock and more and more people from across the political spectrum are joining us."