The new political management structure of Oxfordshire County Council was launched with a bang on Bonfire Night.

After 16 years as a hung council, Liberal Democrat and Conservative councillors have formed an alliance to run the authority.

To coincide with the change, the old committee system has been replaced with an executive board and a number of scrutiny panels, headed by the council's Labour group.

The nine members of the board, who officially meet for the first time today, launched a rocket at Oxford's Rewley Road fire station yesterday to mark the new beginning, which is part of the Government's overhaul of local government.

Council leader Cllr Keith Mitchell said: "The executive intends to get off to a flying start with the new political management arrangements.

"It's a new start for the council and we're promising a brighter future for the people of Oxfordshire.

"We intend to provide clear leadership, both to raise the performance of the county council and to engage constructively with other major players."