SPECIAL REPORT: How Worcestershire County Council's election count unfolded

Yesterday's local elections count saw the Tories increase their overall majority at County Hall, now holding 40 of the 57 seats.

On a day of drama:

- Labour suffered a setback by losing two seats, including their Worcestershire health spokesman

- UKIP's vote collapsed, meaning the party ended the day without a single county councillor

- The Liberal Democrats lost their Claines stronghold to the Tories, with the party no longer having any elected politicians in Worcester

Yesterday's outcome means the Conservatives now have an overall majority of 23 seats, compared to just seven before.

The swing is so significant because the Tories gained all those seats the other parties lost, taking the blue cohort of councillors from 32 to 40.

The main opposition Labour group are now on 10, with the Lib Dems on three, Greens on two and two independents.

Councillor Simon Geraghty, the county council's leader, also retained his Riverside seat in Worcester with a significantly increased majority of 567.

Yesterday, he said the result was "a clear endorsement" of his strategy at County Hall.

"This is a clear endorsement of the plan we've put forward for this county, it's an ambitious plan but one we want to deliver on," he said.

"I'm looking forward to getting on and doing a job I love."

Worcester's Tory parliamentary candidate Robin Walker added: "We've got the momentum."

Bullish Labour figures in the city insisted they were pleased with the outcome, pointing to the party retaining all but two of its Worcestershire seats.

Councillor Joy Squires, Labour's Worcester parliamentary candidate, said: "In Worcester Labour's vote has held up well - we made a 'gain' in Gorse Hill and kept our seats elsewhere."

Councillor Adrian Gregson, Labour's leader on the city council, said: "We've got excellent councillors re-elected - Labour's policies are the right ones for the people of this country."

UKIP got as few as 100-odd votes in a whole series of council divisions, losing both its seats on a torrid day.

But the Green kept two seats in Worcester and Malvern, with the Lib Dems also successfully defending its divisions of Powick, Pershore and St Chad's, Kidderminster.

The Tory leadership at County Hall can now press ahead with the £316 million budget for 2017/18, which includes proposals to cut spending by more than £25 million.

The administration will focus on trying to secure £70 million of Government cash to dual Carrington Bridge, and is under pressure to restore confidence in its child protection services, which Ofsted graded 'inadequate' back in January.

SO WHAT HAPPENED IN WORCESTER?

WORCESTER'S big story came in the old Lib Dem stronghold of Claines, where the Conservatives triumphed.

Andy Stafford, a current city councillor, won the seat for the Tories after getting 1,543 votes, defeating Mel Allcott by 447.

The results means the Lib Dems now have no elected councillors in Worcester for the first time in two decades, despite a recent surge in membership.

Mr Stafford used his victory speech to pay tribute to veteran Lib Dem Sue Askin, who stood down prior to the count.

"I'd like to pay tribute to Sue Askin, I hope I'll be as good a county councillor as she was," he said.

"It's been a very long, hard campaign, lots of miles have been walked and lots of doors knocked on - I want to thank everyone."

Elsewhere, the big election battle of St Peter's saw the Conservative hold the seat, defeating a significant Green challenge.

Steve Mackay, who is also a city councillor, polled 2,014 votes - the biggest tally in the city - with Green Jane Moorhouse on 1,363.

"It's been a long, arduous campaign, a lot of shoe leather's been worn out - I must say thank you to the people of St Peter's and Battenhall for putting their faith in me," he said.

Labour won Gorse Hill & Warndon, taking back control of the 'safe' seat held by Councillor Alan Amos, who switched sides to the Tories two years ago.

Labour's Ceri Stalker was moved to tears by the result, with her 923 enough for victory compared to 587 for Conservative hopeful Phoenix Jones.

Mrs Stalker, who thanked her husband John in an emotional speech, said: "I'm incredibly pleased and proud, I promise to do my best for people."

Labour Councillor Paul Denham, the current city mayor, kept his Rainbow Hill county council seat with an increased majority, getting 1,027 votes.

Tory candidate Francis Lankester, a well-known ex-councillor in the city, came second on 412.

Cllr Denham called it "pleasing and humbling", calling the victory "a magnificent result".

Worcester Green Party's big result was in St Stephen, with Councillor Matthew Jenkins holding his seat.

He got 1,554 votes, defeating Tory Alan Feeney who finished with 855, and said he was "really chuffed".

He said: "I'm embarrassed really - this is a joint effort, we work hard all year round."

As well as holding its stronghold of Bedwardine and keeping Riverside, the Conservatives also kept control of Warndon Parish.

Cllr Andy Roberts got 1,564 votes, a huge 998 majority, with Labour coming second.

He said he wanted to "especially thanks my missus, Fran", and paid tribute to Robin Walker.

Elsewhere Labour held both St John's and Nunnery, with councillors Richard Udall and Pat Agar winning by margins of 522 and 342 respectively.

Cllr Udall said: "Once again I'm the voice of St John's - I hope to repay the debt I owe people."

In Nunnery Tory candidate Chris Mitchell, a former city council deputy leader, managed to get 708 votes but it wasn't enough, with Cllr Agar calling it "wonderful".

TWO BROTHERS CELEBRATE JOINT ELECTION TRIUMPH

TWO brothers were celebrating yesterday after winning their election battles in Worcester - and will represent the same part of the city.

Bill Amos was victorious in Worcester City Council's Bedwardine ward by-election, polling 1,457 votes to defeat Labour's Jenny Barnes.

The result was a boost for the Tories, who remain the city council's largest party and hold 17 of the 35 seats despite being in opposition.

And elsewhere his brother Councillor Alan Amos held the Bedwardine county council seat for the Tories, with an increased majority of 652.

Bill Amos, a retired former railways worker, said: "I'm honoured and grateful to be elected.

"There's a job to be done, and I'll give it my full-time attention, I look forward to representing all the people of Bedwardine."

Cllr Alan Amos said he felt his "hard work had been rewarded", saying he was "deeply honoured" to have won the county council seat.

In the city's by-election contest Ms Barnes got 816 votes to come second, Green hopeful Daniel Daye was third on 189 and UKIP's Paul Hickling came fourth with 124.

It was triggered by the resignation of Tory David Wilkinson.

TORY DELIGHT IN MALVERN

THE Tories smashed their opposition at the local elections in the Malvern Hills area.

They increased their majorities in their five county council seats and even unseated Independent candidate Roger Sutton.

In another twist Ian Hopwood was trounced by his old party when he stood as an Independent candidate after his deselection by the Conservatives.

The Liberal Democrats and the Green Party also saw their majorities increase.

Tom Wells stood for the Liberal Democrats and saw his majority surge to 1,600, after receiving 2,407 votes in Powick.

While Green Party councillor John Raine got 930 votes in Malvern Trinity - increasing his majority from 5 to 174.

Cllr Raine said: “I’m very pleased, I didn’t know what to expect.

“With UKIP in decline it was possible that the vote could swing to the Conservatives.

“It’s lovely that people are willing to trust in me for another four years.”

Cllr Wells, for Powick, said: "I'm delighted. It's a bigger majority than before which was already substantial.

"I didn't think I could increase my majority. It has blown me away. I couldn't have dreamed of a win in an area that's pretty much conservative.

"To attract people to vote for me is very special."

Ian Hopwood, who won Malvern Langland in 2013, only secured 155 votes as an Independent candidate for the seat.

"I would like to have won but I'm fighting an organisations n. I was deselected and it hurt," he said.

James O'Donnell, who beat Mr Hopwood with 767 votes, said: "I'm delighted with the result. It's a significant increase in the majority.

"I have a great deal of respect for Ian. I hope we can pull him back into the party.

"Our majority should have been 200 instead of slightly over 50."

Roger Sutton, also an Independent, lost his seat in Croome to Conservative candidate Paul Middlebrough.

Tory Lucy Hodgson said: “I’m grateful residents have given me so much support.

“I’ve gone from 22 votes to a majority of over 650. I think they [voters] have shown their confidence in me."

Phil Grove, who stood for the Conservative Party in Hallow, said: "I was nervous beforehand but I'm delighted with the result.

"I'm going forward with confidence. Residents will have someone 100 per cent committed to represent them at County Hall.

"I look forward to meeting them at meetings and on the doorsteps."

Cllr Grove now has a majority of 1,654 compared with 220 after the 2013 election.

The Conservatives gained Croome, and retained Hallow, Malvern Chase, Malvern Langland, Malvern Link and Tenbury; while the Green Party retained Malvern Trinity and the Liberal Democrats kept Powick.

STATUS QUO IN WYCHAVON

THERE was no change for the Wychavon seats on Worcestershire County Council, with the Tories continuing their dominance.

Voters went to the polls on Thursday to choose who they wanted to represent them at County Hall on the 12 seats available in Wychavon.

Going into the election the Conservatives had 11 of these, with one Liberal Democrat, and after the votes were counted on Friday morning this was the continued state of play.

The biggest margin of victory for a candidate was for former leader of the authority Conservative Adrian Hardman who gained 2,371 votes in Bredon, 1,906 votes clear of second place.

In his speech Adrian Hardman thanked his wife and campaign team, and Prime Minister Theresa May, saying a lot of credit for the Tories win locally should go to her.

He added: "It is looking like a great result for the Conservatives across Worcestershire."

There were also big Conservative wins in Upton Snodsbury and Ombersley.

New Conservative candidate Peter Tomlinson received 2,153 votes in Ombersley, while Conservative Rob Adams won with 2,168 votes - both clear of their nearest challengers in second place by 1,868 votes.

In his speech, Mr Adams said: "I cannot wait to get back to County Hall.

"It is very humbling to think more than 2,000 voters had put their cross down for me.

"I will be fighting for the vulnerable in this county - they are more important than roads and pavements."

The other Tories holding their seats included Liz Eyre in Broadway, Tony Miller in Bowbrook, John Smith in Evesham North West, Bob Banks in Evesham South, and Alastair Adams in Littletons.

Droitwich East and West, and Harvington were all Conservative holds but these wards will have new representatives - Bob Brookes, Richard Morris and Anthony Hopkins respectively.

The Liberal Democrat's sole county councillor for Wychavon remains Liz Tucker having held onto her Pershore seat with 1,871 votes, 359 votes more than her previous win at the last election.

LABOUR LOSE TWO SEATS IN NORTH WORCESTERSHIRE

IN NORTH Worcestershire the Labour Party survived a pummelling to cling on in their key seats - but suffered a bitter blow by losing their health spokesman.

Graham Vickery, who has spent recent years warning against NHS cuts, lost his seat in Redditch north by an agonising 80 votes.

The seat went to Conservative Brandon Clayton, but Labour survived several scares elsewhere.

Labour also lost a councillor in Arrow Valley East, with Joe Baker losing his seat as well as UKIP's Peter Bridle, both seats going to the Tories.

Councillor Peter McDonald, Labour's group leader, held on by just 123 votes in Beacon while Chris Bloore, another Labour big-hitter, retained his seat in Bromsgrove South by 250 votes.

Elsewhere, in Bromsgrove the Tories suffered a blow after June Griffiths lost her seat to an independent in one of yesterday's shocks.

She was defeated by independent Charles Hotham who won with a majority of 73, but before the result was announced she collapsed at the count, going to A&E.

The Conservatives held onto a series of seats in areas like Bromsgrove and the Wyre Forest with increased majorities, including Bewdley, where police and crime commissioner John Campion stood down as a councillor.

It was also an emotional day for Tory Jane Potter, a former cabinet member at County Hall who lost her seat to UKIP in 2013.

She regained the seat which was held by UKIP until yesterday, leaving Paul Nuttall's party with no county councillors.

Nationally, the Conservatives made gains across the country while almost all the other parties have lost ground.

Labour has lost more than 380 council seats, UKIP has suffered heavy losses and the Lib Dems have not make the gains they had hoped for.

The Conservatives appear to have been the main beneficiaries of a decline in support for UKIP.

The party is now in charge of 11 more councils having taken Derbyshire from Labour as well as Warwickshire, Lincolnshire, Gloucestershire, the Isle of Wight and Monmouthshire - all of which were previously under 'no overall control'.

RECAP: See how we covered yesterday's count LIVE by going here.