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A new council leader has promised to follow the "same policy direction" as his predecessor, sparking anger from the opposition.

Roy Perry, father of Romsey and Southampton North MP Caroline Nokes, has been chosen as leader of Hampshire County Council's Conservative group.

He said his priorities would be "good services", keeping council tax down and protecting Hampshire's rural character.

The Liberal Democrat group called for a change in the policy of "drastic cuts".

According to the council's website it "has achieved savings of £100 million over the last two years".

Lib Dem leader Keith House criticised the Tories' handling of council finances, saying the party had put too much focus on council reserves - which he said had reached £300 million - while makings cuts.

But Mr Perry said his party had protected services while keeping council tax frozen for four years.

Speaking about the election of 10 UK Independence Party (UKIP) councillors, Mr House said he was concerned they would encourage the Tories to "tack to the right" and make further cuts.

But Ray Finch, a candidate in the UKIP leadership vote due to be held on Thursday, said UKIP councillors would not "approach things from an ideological perspective" and were determined to protect services and front-line jobs.

He said the party would try to "return common sense" to council policy.

His plans include cutting senior staff pay and scrapping "vanity projects" such as broadcasting video of council meetings online, he said.

Mr Perry was chosen by Conservatives to replace Ken Thornber, who resigned after Thursday's election. He will officially take the role at a council meeting on 23 May.