JAMES Gray stormed to a comfortable victory in the North Wiltshire constituency this morning with an increased majority.

Mr Gray secured well over half of the 50,672 votes cast with 28,938 votes at the count at Malmesbury Leisure Centre.

Mr Gray, who has been an MP since 1997, said: “I am absolutely thrilled to serve the people of North Wiltshire for another five years and to have been returned with an increased majority.

“I am in debt to the people of North Wiltshire and I hope I will repay that debt over the next five years and I hope we will form a strong government.”

Liberal Democrat candidate Brian Mathew managed to stay ahead of UKIP with Pat Bryant picking up 5,813 votes ahead of Peter Baldrey (Lab), who secured 4,930 votes, and Phil Chamberlain, who managed 2,350.

Mr Chamberlain was pleased to see his vote in North Wiltshire quadruple to 2,350, leaving the party just 184 votes short from saving their £500 deposit.

Independent candidate Simon Killane managed 390 votes - 147 more than fellow independent Giles Wareham.

A disappointing night for the Liberal Democrats nationally was reflected in their results with the party falling from 17,631 to 7892 votes.

The turnout in the North Wiltshire constituency was 74.5% - a single per cent increase from 2005.

Labour’s Peter Baldrey said: “We put on an extra 1,500 votes from 2005, that’s a massive increase on last time so we are really pleased with that.”

In total, 111 ballot papers were spoilt.

UKIP candidate Pat Bryant said: “I am very happy, I was aiming for eight to 10 per cent and I made about 10 per cent. It would have been nice to have second but never mind.

“It’s a building block for 2020, these story held seats in Wiltshire are going to take more than one election to bash the door down.

“I am please with the whole UKIP campaign and I think we are showing the bankruptcy of the first past the post system.”