Just one of the four district councils to go to the polls on Thursday night changed hands -- but the night threw up a few surprises.

New Witney Central independent councillor Harriet Ryley

About a third of the electors in the four districts turned out to vote -- similar to the national average and to the turnout for the last elections, which was described as disappointing.

Conservatives have regained control of South Oxfordshire District Council after eight years in the wilderness. The district also saw four political heavyweights lose their seats from the joint Lib Dem/Labour leadership, including both the council leader and chairman.

Tory candidates maintained their hold on the council in West Oxfordshire and made up ground on the Lib Dems in the Vale of White Horse.

In Bicester, the National Front attracted 142 votes -- just 39 behind the Lib Dem candidate -- after trying to use public feeling against Government plans to build a 750-person asylum seekers centre in a nearby village.

Perhaps the biggest winner of the night was Harriet Ryley in Witney.

The independent candidate won the seat at the first time of asking after campaigning on a single issue -- her opposition to the proposed redevelopment of the town's Marriotts Close site for housing or a superstore.

In the Vale of White Horse, Lib Dems held on to control despite losing some ground to the Conservatives, but Labour was completely wiped out, failing to gain a single seat despite fielding 33 candidates. Tory candidate Cyril Rudge, first elected in Marcham 27 years ago, lost his seat.

Get all your election info here