AFTER seven years of Liberal Democrat monopoly the Conservatives clawed back five seats on Trowbridge Town Council.

Lib Dems Sally Boyle, Carolynn Purnell, Graham Hedley and Arthur Ransome all failed to get re-elected.

Jeff Osborn, who was re-elected as a Lib Dem councillor at both town and district levels, said: "It is an interesting outcome and we will all have to get used to working together for the benefit of the town.

"I hope we do not end up with political point scoring because there is a bigger job to be done for the people of the town, who won't thank us for turning the council into a bear pit."

John Wallace and Graeme Hawley gained two seats in the John of Gaunt ward for the Tories and Gerald Burnam gained another in the Drynam ward.

Also taking up their seats will be Peter Fuller, who lost his seat on the West Wiltshire District Council and Graham Payne, leader of the Conservatives on the district council. Cllr Payne said: "We are very pleased that after 16 years we have made an inroad into the town council.

"This gives us a good foothold."

The party deliberately targeted the Drynham and John of Gaunt wards in the hope of getting four to five seats as a starting point.

Cllr Payne praised the efforts of west Wiltshire MP Andrew Murrison who joined the campaign trail on behalf of the local party.

He said: "Andrew Murrison played an integral part in our campaign by personally canvassing and becoming a part of the election at such an early stage."