The last five wards counted still had the power to surprise. 

Eastcott had taken two recounts, until it was agreed Labour’s Marina Strinkovsky has taken the ward by 44 votes.

That meant the Liberal Democrats will have no councillors for at least a year, and it unseated Stan Pajak who had been a district and county councillor and then a borough councillor for decades. 

Even his opponents had a pang of regret about that. 

Labour had a very decent win in Walcot & Park North. It should have, by previous form, but on a terrible day for the party, this was one of very few bright moments. 

Thumping wins in Shaw and St Margaret & South Marston for cabinet members Keith Williams and Russell Holland took the Conservatives to 35 seats out of 57. 

The cap was put on a brilliant day for the party by holding St Andrews, taking the group to 36 seats, a 15 seat majority.