BLUE is still the colour of West Oxfordshire following a Tory triumph in the local elections.

Cheers erupted throughout Windrush Leisure Centre in Witney as new and old Conservatives were elected onto the district council.

The Tories won 12 seats, with Labour taking three and the Lib Dems winning two.

But the loudest cheer of all came after leader of the Labour party for West Oxfordshire, Duncan Enright, secured his seat in Witney East for another four years.

Mr Enright said: "I'm absolutely delighted and proud.

"It's an indication of the work we have been doing locally for the past four years."

There was a moment of concern that Mr Enright had lost the seat to Conservative rival Suzanne Bartington, until a new pile of votes was discovered.

The councillor prematurely tweeted a thanks to everyone who had voted for him, but announced he had lost by 70 or so votes.

But then just an hour later he sent out another tweet, to say there had been a miscount.

He wrote: "Actually I won! Bundle of my votes under a Tory pile! Delighted! Thanks Witney!"

Mr Enright received 997 votes in the end, with Dr Bartington coming close behind with 919.

First during the evening to hear he had won his seat was Conservative Terence Owen for Chadlington and Churchill, with 421 votes.

Mr Owen said: "I'm elated. It's an accurate reflection of what local people feel: Conservative.

"I love the countryside I represent. I absolutely love it."

He beat 18-year-old Labour candidate Aaron Miles, the youngest candidate this year at West Oxfordshire District Council, who received 66 votes.

Mr Miles, a graphics and design student at Banbury College, said: "For my first ever election that was great.

I want to send a message to all young people, all 18-25 year olds - step up. There's no point doing nothing.

"I'm definitely staying in politics. I'm going again."

More cheers sounded throughout the hall as Labour's Andrew Coles won his Witney Central seat with 781 votes, which he said he was thrilled with. Also of Labour, Geoff Saul took the Chipping Norton seat with the highest number of votes on the night, 1,008.

Winner of the Witney South seat was Conservative Jane Doughty, who said: "I'm really pleased. There was a slight increase from last year as well from 577 to 633 votes."

The Liberal Democrats also gained seats on the council. Liz Leffman won over Charlbury and Finstock, gaining 944 votes while mayor of Woodstock Elizabeth Poskitt took the Woodstock and Bladon ward with 617 votes.

West Oxfordshire District Council now has 41 Conservatives in power, four Lib Dems and four Labour councillors.