THE Conservative Party in West Devon was this week celebrating as its candidates secured enough seats in last week?s local elections to leapfrog Liberal Democrats to become the largest political group on the council.

The Tories now have 12 seats ? but despite their gain do not take overall control. The Independents took ten seats, the Liberal Democrats eight ? and the remaining seat was taken by the UK Independence Party?s Dave Weeks, a surprise win which toppled last year?s deputy mayor of the borough, Denise Herrod-Taylor.

Cllr Dick Eberlie, Conservative spokesman, one of three Tories returned in Tavistock, said: ?I am delighted at the electorate?s decision in

returning twelve candidates ? two more than we had before.

?It shows strong confidence in the Conservatives and places on us a very considerable responsibility to meet the wishes of the whole electorate.

?It?s a good result and gives us an opportunity to influence things much more, in the way the electors want ? it?s excellent, we are very pleased.?

In Okehampton it was honours shared with the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats taking two seats apiece.

Elsewhere, the Liberal Democrats suffered some notable defeats ? and gains.

Previous leader of the group Nicholas Waterhouse gambled on standing in an alternative ward to the Burrator area he previously represented. But the bid failed and the Milton Ford seat was retained by Conservative Dilwyn Hughes.

Another prominent Liberal Democrat to lose his seat to the Tories was Noel Cartwright, of Sampford Courtenay, where the election was won by Conservative Association chairman James McInnes.

But returned to the council was Liberal Democrat Alison Clish-Green, a former mayor of West Devon and one of the party?s worst losses at the last election four years earlier.

She now represents the new Tavistock South West ward, where she took the seat with a substantial majority over nearest rival Tory David Best.

This week she was unanimously elected to lead the Lib Dem group of six women and two men on the council.

Cllr Clish-Green said: ?We may not be a majority on the council, but we have good and workable policies and are determined to make our voice heard.?

Liberal Democrat Pam Scannell also won back the Mary Tavy ward she lost to the Tories in 1999.

The election changes the make up of the borough from Independent 13, Lib Dem nine, Conservative seven, with one vacant seat.

The new picture is Conservative 12, Independents ten, Liberal Democrat eight, UK Independence Party one. There are now 31 seats on the council, following boundary changes.

The overall turnout for the election was 37.74%. Lowest turnout was in the Okehampton East ward, at just 24.57%. Highest was in Exbourne, at 50.66%.

Following an extensive publicity campaign, the borough issued around 2,340 postal votes ? a big rise from the last local elections in 1999, when just 415 postal votes were issued.

THE full list of West Devon Borough Council results is below.

The number of seats in each ward is shown in brackets, followed by the turnout percentage.

Elected members are shown in bold type.

BERE FERRERS (2) Uncontested

Christine Grills Lib Dem

Eaon Wager Local Con

BRIDESTOWE (1) Uncontested

John Hockridge Ind

BUCKLAND MONACHORUM (2) 43.19%

Margaret Garton Ind 717

John Soul Con 630

Emily Williams UKIP 357

BURRATOR (1) 44.92%

Diana Moyse Local Con 294

Michael Parle Lib Dem 268

CHAGFORD (1) Uncontested

Peter Hill Ind

DREWSTEIGNTON (1) Uncontested

Paul Ridgers Con

EXBOURNE (1) 50.66%

David Weeks UKIP 346

Denise Herrod-Taylor Ind 300

HATHERLEIGH (1) uncontested

Dennis Bater Ind

LEW VALLEY (1) 47.06%

James McInnes Local Con 429

Noel Cartwright Lib Dem 192

LYDFORD (1) 40.48%

Robert Williamson Local Con 212

Audrey Vigni Lib Dem 158

Susan Bamford UKIP 82

MARY TAVY (1) 40.82%

Pam Scannell Lib Dem 311

David Whitcomb Con 239

MILTON FORD (1) 37.87%

Dilwyn Hughes Con 193

Michael Pithouse Ind 174

Nicholas Waterhouse Lib Dem 75

NORTH TAWTON (1) Uncontested

Nicholas (Nick) Morgan Ind

OKEHAMPTON EAST (2) 24.57%

Joanna V Harrison Local Con 299

Elaine Kale Lib Dem 235

Hyder Pirwany Local Con 216

Michael (Mike) Davies Ind 195

OKEHAMPTON WEST (2) 33.9%

Kenneth Williams Lib Dem 506

Jayne Hill Local Con 454

Mark Slater Local Con 335

SOUTH TAWTON (1) uncontested

John Darch Ind

TAMARSIDE (1) 40.94%

Robin Pike Ind 276

Martin Taylor Lib Dem 122

Clive Small Ind 82

TAVISTOCK NORTH (3) 37.49%

Richard Eberlie Con 613

Roy Connelly Lib Dem 501

Shaun Watchorn Con 493

Jane Ramsey Con 487

Caroline Keane Ind 472

David Stapleton Lib Dem 470

Peter Jones Lib Dem 406

Martin Quinn Green 292

TAVISTOCK SOUTH (3) 38.12%

Ted Sherrell Ind 923

Mandy Govier Con 661

Roger Mathew Ind 619

Alex Wood Lib Dem 372

Terence West Lib Dem 298

Peter Aizlewood Lib Dem 281

TAVISTOCK SOUTH WEST (1) 31.1%

Alison Clish-Green Lib Dem 218

David Best Con 145

Betty Batchelor Lab 54

THRUSHEL (1) 40.07%

Dawn Rogers Ind 253

Christopher Hill Con 231

WALKHAM (2) 30.82%

Sally Monk Lib Dem 479

Jane Waterhouse Lib Dem 368

Laurie Leask UKIP 331