AFTER winning back the constituency from the Liberal Democrats in 1997 and increasing his majority enormously four years ago, Christchurch Tory MP Chris Chope could do no more this time than successfully defend his seat.

And that is just what he and the constituency's true-blue Tory

voters did last night, adding an extra 2,000 to his majority over the Liberal Democrats.

The UK Independence party tripled its vote from 2001 but still trailed fourth behind Labour.

The result came as no surprise.

Even before the counting had begun at the 2 Riversmeet sports centre, the other candidates had conceded Christchurch to the Conservatives and were drawing comfort from improving their party's performance from 2001.

But increased votes for Conservative, Labour and UKIP candidates came at the expense of the Liberal Democrats who saw their share of the poll slip despite a near 70 per cent turnout across the constituency which includes a large part of East Dorset district.

"It is a privilege to be elected for a third successive term to represent the greatest constituency in the country," said Mr Chope.

"We have increased the number of seats across the country by about a quarter and made significant progress.

"It has not been enough to achieve the result so many of my constituents have been yearning for but it will give us a stronger voice in parliament and should result in a government which has more humility and honesty."

And he pledged: "In this constituency I see my responsibility as defending the values and

quality of life of the people of Christchurch against Labour party policies which threaten them such as council tax

revaluation and planning policies in the urban environment which allow the replacement of one house with blocks of flats."

Conservative party agent Judy Jamieson who masterminded the Christchurch victory and successful campaigns in several other Dorset and Wiltshire constituencies said canvassing had showed a large part of the electorate wanted to get rid of Tony Blair.

"The other thing that was very clear was that people resent their money and council taxes going north. Sedgefield Tony Blair's constituency is about the same size as East Dorset but gets four times as much funding from the government."

Christchurch

Christopher Chope (Con) 28,208

Leslie Coman (Lib-Dem) 12,649

Jim Kng (Labour) 8,051

David Hughes (UKIP) 2,657

Majority 15,559 - Hold