WITH Radio Four coming through in one ear and her hands-free phone earpiece in the other, Judy Jamieson was intently studying the exit polls and keeping in touch with Tory seats across Dorset and Wiltshire at the same time.

Text messages from Conservative Central Office on the national picture unfolding were popping up on her mobile.

As Area Campaign Director for two counties, she had more than just Christchurch on her mind.

It was just after 10pm. The polls had closed and ballot boxes were arriving at the Two Riversmeet Leisure Centre from across the Christchurch constituency.

Tables snaked across the floor of the sports centre and the counters were beginning to sort through the piles of papers.

At 10.01pm, the exit polls predicted a much reduced Labour majority of 66 seats with the Tories at 209 seats, 44 more than in the previous Parliament. The Liberal Democrats would only pick up three more, up to 53.

But then nobody believes exit polls.

"They can be notoriously wrong," said Mrs Jamieson.

"Frankly they are there for the political pundits to play with. It gives the people with swingometers something to do until the true results come through."

There wasn't too much tension at Christchurch where Chris Chope was the nearest thing to a dead cert the Conservatives have. If Christchurch went from the Tories (forget that blip of the by-election back in 1993) they would be in real trouble.

By midnight only three seats had declared, all safe Labour constituencies in the north-east. But in each case the party's majority had taken a big knock, a pattern set to be repeated across much of the rest of the country during the night.

The message was a personal one to Mr Blair.

The first Conservative win of the night came in marginal Putney, taking it back from Labour with a swing of six per cent.

Meanwhile down the road at Bournemouth's Littledown Centre, Conservative elder statesman, Sir John Butterfill predicted "some surprises tonight".

Though not in his Bournemouth West seat - surely a foregone conclusion.

"As a candidate you cannot feel that," he said.

"If you ever take your seat for granted that's when you deserve to lose it."

But as the ballot papers stacked up on one of the long tables in the centre of the hall for him, it was clear he had little to worry about.

The same could not be said for Liberal Democrat Andrew Garratt watching the table in front as votes piled up behind the names of candidates in Bournemouth East, a Lib Dem target seat won by Tory Tobias Ellwood.

Tension mounted on the floor as dozens of party supporters kept an eagle eye on the counting process in the hours leading up to that announcement.

Counts are "nerve-wracking", said Mr Garratt.

And both candidates were unhappy at the turnout - 53.67 per cent in Bournemouth West and 59.69 per cent in Bournemouth East.

"In some ways, none of us are victors when the turnout is so low," added Mr Garratt.

It was higher in Poole.

Across the Poole constituency, where Conservative Robert Syms retained his seat, 63.3 per cent made their way to their assigned polling stations.

The turnout in Mid-Dorset and North Poole, won by Liberal Democrat Annette Brooke, was 68.57 per cent.

The result was announced at around 2.30am.

Television cameras were pointed at the rows of votes at the front of the hall while supporters gathered to hear the Acting Returning Officer speak.

Holding cameras and video recorders above their heads, they cheered, clapped and stamped their feet as the results were read out.

As we left the hall, the ballot papers were being bundled into large paper bags and loaded into the back of a van.

It was all over - well, for another four years anyway.

First published: May 6