THE Liberal Democrats romped to a record majority at Eastleigh Borough Council as they claimed an election scalp from both Labour and the Conservatives.

The ruling party now controls 39 of a possible 44 seats in the council chamber – the largest majority since the authority revised its boundaries and reformed in 1974.

Lib Dem leader Keith House stormed home with 1,663 votes – more than double his nearest rival in Hedge End Wildern, Tory candidate Paul Redding.

But there was less good news for the authority’s Labour group leader, who was dramatically ousted after 27 years on the council.

• Full Eastleigh Results

Peter Luffman, who was first elected in 1983, was devastated after receiving nearly 1,000 fewer votes than Lib Dem Steven Sollitt – a former Southampton City Councillor.

After the count, at Eastleigh’s Fleming Park Leisure Centre yesterday, Mr Luffman told the Daily Echo the hefty defeat may have been the result of the national voting picture “I have had 27 years on the council in the local area I was brought up in so it’s a major shock to get beaten by such a large number.

“Obviously from this election to the last one there have been 5,000 voters that have tactically voted to stop the Conservatives coming in.

Unfortunately for me they also carried on voting with the Lib Dems at the local elections.

“It is one of the punishments you get when the local and national elections tied in together.”

Just 15 of the council’s 44 seats were up for grabs yesterday, but Lib Dems strengthened their grip by seizing both Mr Luffman’s Eastleigh South ward and the Conservative seat of Joyce Sortwell in West End South. Tory group leader Godfrey Olson said he was pleased two of the group’s seats were retained, but voiced his concern at the size of the Lib Dem’s new majority. Council leader Keith House said: “It is another great day for the Lib Dems in Eastleigh.

“We are very open and democratic about the way we do things so we are prepared to have internal discussions - and disagreements occasionally. But equally we want to provide good leadership and if we do the job that people want us to do then it must be good for democracy.”