The single council will sweep away the current county structure, along with the six districts and boroughs, when it takes control next April.

But the results of last week's election have left the future uncertain, with the leading Liberal Democrats holding 26 of the 67 seats.

It means that unless the party can form an alliance with the Conservative or Labour group, which took 17 seats apiece, or the Independents on seven, it will be forced to lead with a minority.

Delicate negotiations were still taking place yesterday afternoon, as the new members descended on County Hall in Morpeth to sign the register.

Coun Andrew Tebbutt, chairman of the Lib Dem group, said its leadership team, which also includes Lesbury member Roger Styring as deputy leader, was currently poring over all the possibilities.

"The leadership team are currently exploring all the issues involved in forming an administration in the 'no overall control' situation," he said. "This will involve discussions with other parties over the next few days to establish what level of consensus thinking can be reached.

"The over-riding priority for the Liberal Democrats is to ensure the transition arrangements from Northumberland County Council and the six Northumberland districts into the new Northumberland Unitary Council are fully in place by April 1 next year."

Also remaining un-aligned yesterday was Alnwick Independent Gordon Castle, who said: "The situation is uncertain at the moment.

"My job as an Independent councillor will be to get the best representation for the people of my division."

Labour group leader Grant Davey said: "All we can say at this moment in time is that negotiations continue and nothing has been decided."

Last Thursday's election was a bloodbath for the former Labour administration, which had its number of seats slashed by just over half from 35 to 17.

But it was a coup for the Lib Dems, who gained 12 to put them into first place.

The Conservatives added three to their tally, while the Independents managed to secure a further four members on the new authority.