THE Lib Dem leader and deputy leader of Malvern Hills District Council both lost their seats as Tories swept to power in last Thursday's election, seizing 29 of 38 seats in the process.

Only five of 28 Lib Dem candidates won seats - and among the losers were leader Di Rayner and deputy Clive Smith, thrown out by voters in their Wells and Link wards As the Tories added 16 seats to their 2003 total, other big-name Lib Dem casualties were cabinet member John Rayner and the long-serving John Tretheway.

The scale of the Lib Dem defeat came as a surprise to both parties.

Before the count, Tory leader Serena Croad had been talking about winning 22 or 23 seats being a good result, while Di Rayner was hoping to stay in control of the council.

After hearing of her deafeat, she said: "It's very sad for me, but democracy is when people make a choice and that is what they have done. I am still on the county council and I have five grandchildren, so I might now spend some time being a grandmother."

The Conservatives reached the 20 seats needed for a majority shortly after 3.30am, with the announcement they had won all three seats in the Link Ward, where the Liberal Democrats recorded a clean sweep in 2003.

Conservative group leader Serena Croad said one of the party's first acts would be to re-open public toilets in Malvern and Upton.

Turnout at the election was up by more than seven per cent on 2003, with 45.6 per cent of the electorate, some 23,000 people, having registered their votes The count last Thursday was covered by the Malvern Gazette, with reports, including video clips, being posted on our website throughout the night.