HAMPSHIRE'S biggest council elections in decades have failed to change the political landscape.

However, several high-profile figures are today licking their wounds after they were thrown out of office.

Southampton and Gosport remain "hung" councils while the Liberal Democrats kept control of Eastleigh and Winchester, and the Conservatives held on to power in Fareham.

Each authority was holding its first all-out poll since the 1970s after boundary alterations and government-inspired changes in the way local councils are run.

Winchester City Council leader Rodney Sabine was last night's main casualty, losing his seat at The Alresfords.

It was a bad night overall for the Sabine family. Rodney's wife Rosalind lost her seat and his daughter Anna was also defeated.

However, Mr Sabine had the consolation of seeing his Liberal Democrat group keep its strong grip on power despite his personal loss.

He said: "The Labour campaign was aimed at me personally. I'm very disappointed. I was expecting it to be close. I will return."

A new leader is due to be elected tomorrow by Lib Dem councillors. Hot favourite is deputy leader Sheila Campbell.

Conor Burns, Southampton's Conservative group leader, was a shock loser in the city's true blue Bassett ward.

Lib Dem Elizabeth Mizon topped the poll and was returned alongside Tories John Hannides and Alec Samuels with Mr Burns only finishing fourth.

He said: "This is the end of the line as far as Southampton politics is concerned. There has been a serious conflict of loyalty between my council work in Southampton and my aspirations to be the Eastleigh MP. Eastleigh will now get the full focus of my attention."

The Conservatives - who gained four seats in the city - will now have to regroup and choose a new leader before any power-sharing deal is discussed.

Labour big guns such as Paul Jenks in Sholing and Jacqui Rayment in Bevois were relieved to have scraped in - keeping their party in the driving seat although they can be outvoted if the Lib Dems and Tories gang up on them.

The controversial Waitrose store in Chandler's Ford has been blamed for the defeat of former Eastleigh mayor Margaret Kyrle, a councillor for almost 30 years.

Long-serving colleague Grahame Smith also paid the price of the Lib Dems' support for the supermarket plan that enraged nearby residents.

Mrs Kyrle's husband Martin and son Rupert did taste victory though as the Lib Dems tightened their stranglehold.

Labour was wiped off the political map in Fareham where the Conservatives held on to power over the Lib Dems.

The ruling Tories were not immune from high-profile losses, however, as stalwart Nick Walker was beaten in Portchester West.

He described it as a "real blow" and said he was so disillusioned he didn't know whether he would stand again.

Dejected former Labour councillor Mick Prior vowed his party would be back but said: "To say I am upset is an understatement."

The Conservatives went from largest to smallest party in Gosport where they were overtaken by both the Liberal Democrats and Labour.

The close state of the parties means there will need to be plenty of power-sharing discussions before a new administration is formed.

Previous leader Peter Edgar - who made the election a personal referendum when he refused to resign after losing a vote of confidence last month - was returned in his Alverstoke seat but saw his party reduced to ten seats.

The other two major parties have 12 each.