A FORMER Eastleigh mayor and long-serving councillor was sensationally dumped off the borough council just one year after voters showed his wife the door.

Martin Kyrle, who chaired the council's Hedge End, West End and Botley local area committee, had served nearly 20 years on the authority - but lost his West End North seat to Tory Steve Broomfield by 31 votes after a recount.

In last year's elections, Mr Kyrle's wife, Margaret, was defeated in Hiltingbury West after 30 years' service on the borough authority. She was a former council leader and twice mayor of the borough.

But the setback did little to dent the Liberal Democrats' grip on the council. They finished with a net loss of just one seat in the 14 wards contested, having gained Eastleigh Central from Labour stalwart Bill Luffman, and losing in West End North and Bishopstoke West.

The Conservatives showed a gain of one seat while Labour remained static, having lost one and gained one. The Liberal Democrats now have 30 councillors, the Conservatives ten and Labour four.

Liberal Democrat council leader Keith House said he was sad to lose Mr Kyrle, adding: "He has a long political career of ups and downs. This is one of his few downs."