THE CONSERVATIVES have stormed to victory in the Hampshire County Council election.

Of the 78 seats on the council, 51 are now held by the Tories, 25 by Liberal Democrats, one by Labour and one Independent Labour was virtually wiped out losing three of the four seats they were defending - two to the Conservatives and one to the Liberal Democrats.

The Tories gained six seats while the Liberal Democrats lost three.

At the election count, nearly half the votes went to the Conservatives - 48 per cent, Liberal Democrats got 33 per cent and Labour seven per cent.

Of the fringe parties, the UK Independence Party (UKIP) benefited most from public fury over the MPs expenses scandal, snatching six per cent of the vote - just one per cent less than Labour.

The victory means a fourth term in office for the Conservatives who have been in power since 1997.

Leader of the Conservatives Ken Thornber who held his Brockenhurst seat, said: “Despite national developments, the people of Hampshire have renewed our mandate to improve our services even more while containing council tax to the lowest in the South East, ensuring continued care for the vulnerable, our schoolchildren’s needs and the Hampshire environment, including the state of the roads and climate change.”

A total of 305 candidates contested the election including 31 members of the UK Independence Party and 10 Green Party members.

Other fringe parties included English Democrats (seven candidates) and the British National Party (four).

Labour minister for the south east Jonathon Shaw said: “It has been a devastating night for us.“Clearly we have to take notice of the anger of the electorate. Obviously, MPs expenses has nothing to do with local issues. I believe if we work on issues like the economy we can win back the seats.”