TORIES are celebrating after taking control of Dorset County Council.

The political composition of the council is now 23 Conservatives, 14 Liberal Democrats, four Labour and one Independent.

Delighted Tory group leader Cllr David Fox, who held his Christchurch seat, said: "After eight years since we were last in control, we are very pleased to be back.

"Hopefully, we shall be able to run Dorset for the benefit of its inhabitants and not waste taxpayers' money on the kind of silly schemes favoured by the Liberal Democrat administration."

The council's outgoing Lib Dem leader, Cllr Trevor Jones, stressed his party had not been "wiped out".

"Obviously I'm disappointed that we should be losing the leadership of the county," he said. "We're proud of our record in running it these last eight years, but I wish the Conservative group every success when they take over."

One of the biggest upsets was in Verwood, where the chairman of the council's education overview committee, Ruth Bussey, lost her seat to district councillor Toni Coombs by 1,305 votes.

Conservatives in the Christchurch area came within 83 votes of a clean sweep of its five county seats, but its two Lib Dem councillors hung on.

A by-election on Christchurch Borough Council was won by John Campbell, replacing fellow Liberal Democrat Martyn Hurll.

In the Purbecks, the Tories took control of Egdon Heath, Swanage and Lytchett wards at the expense of the Lib Dems.

But the Lib Dems gained a seat in a Purbeck District Council by-election for Lytchett Minister and Upton East.

The Tories tightened their grip on Hampshire County Council, gaining three more seats to bring their total to 46 of the 74.

Among the Tory gains was Fordingbridge, where Kathy Heron outpointed Dr Miranda Whitehead following the retirement of long-serving Lib Dem Mike Shand.

Former New Milton Tory Malcolm Jones, who stood as an independent after he was dropped by the party for being too old at 74, trailed in last in a four-way poll topped by Conservative candidate Patricia Banks.

Conservative candidate Jill Cleary won the New Forest District Council by-election for the Bashley ward of New Milton, replacing Delia Woods.

FOR FULL COUNTY COUNCIL RESULTS SEE TODAY'S DAILY ECHO