TORY politicians were today celebrating after regaining the Isle of Wight constituency. Some 16 hours after the polls closed, Conservative Andrew Turner was finally declared the Island's MP at 2.15pm yesterday.

The unexpected delay was triggered because the 70 counters based at the Medina Leisure Centre in Newport had to separate out three different forms of votes for the general election, the Island council election, and parish council elections.

Following consultations with officials, the count was suspended at about 4.45am, to restart at noon yesterday.

The Island, with 106,000 voters, has the largest electorate of any constituency.

The last of the ballot boxes from the 75 polling stations arrived at the count at 11.50pm.

Liberal Democrats, defending a majority of 6,406 from the 1997 election, had wanted to complete the count in one go, but elsewhere there were mixed views over the huge timing miscalculation.

The major concern was the tiredness of the counters.

Following the announcement of Andrew Turner's victory, the counters then moved on to the second of the three counts, for the Island's council.

Andrew Turner recorded 25,223 votes to beat off the challenge of his Liberal Democrat rival Dr Peter Brand, with a majority of 2,826.

It means the Tories have regained the Island seat after a gap of four years.

Dr Brand, who is 52, was first elected in 1997, ending ten years of Tory representation, following the retirement of previous MP Barry Field.

He was defending a majority from 1997 of 6,406, having overturned a Conservative majority of 1,827 from 1992.

The Conservatives targeted the Island as a key seat to win.

Prior to Dr Brand, Barry Field held the seat from 1987 to 1997, with Liberal Stephen Ross his predecessor from 1974.

A victorious Mr Turner paid tribute to Dr Brand's period as MP, and said "I hope now to reach out to the people of the Isle of Wight."

A defeated Dr Brand said: "It has been an enormous privilege to have been the Island's MP for four years, I hope Mr Turner will be able to continue the spirit of partnership."

The Labour candidate, Mrs Deborah Gardiner came third out of the eight candidates. She polled 9,676 votes. In the 1997 election she increased the Labour vote from the 1992 mark of 4,784 to 9,646.

Turnout at the Island vote was 61.19 percent, eight percent down on the 1997 figure of 69.32 percent.

In 1992 a 78.70 per cent turnout was recorded.

In the south, the Lib Dems held on to Romsey, Eastleigh and Winchester, and locally all parties held their seats, apart from the Island.