The Tories regained control of Cherwell District Council after taking seven seats from Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

The Conservatives claimed seats mainly in the Banbury and Bicester areas, and now have 33 councillors. Labour have 12, Liberal Democrats five and Independents two. The council has been hung for the past five years.

The turnout ranged from just 11 per cent in Neithrop, Banbury, to 53 per cent in Ruscote.

The biggest wins for the Conservatives came in the three Bicester seats, which they regained.

Among the casualties was former town mayor John Hanna, who lost his Bicester East seat to Rose Stratford.

George Reynolds, Tory group leader, said: "We have had an extremely good night. We have gained seven seats. We targeted five so we are extremely pleased to win the extra two. "With Labour losing as many seats as they did, it clearly shows that the electorate are extremely displeased with the attitude of the Government. They are fed up with being told what to do, rather than asked what to do."

Bicester West winner Norman Bolster said: "This is a great result for the Conservatives."

His defeated Labour opponent, Les Sibley, described the evening as a disappointing one for Labour.

"We tried our hardest but the Conservatives are too strong in this area," he said

CHERWELL RESULTS

ADDERBURY

John Harper (Con): 590

David Puckering (Lib Dem): 208

Majority: 382

Con hold

Turnout: 38.05%

AMBROSDEN

Claire Brown (Lib Dem): 191

*David Markham (Con): 331

Majority: 140

Con hold

Turnout: 19.42%

ARDLEY

*Catharine Fulljames (Con): 454

Ralph Rookwood (Lib Dem): 110

Majority: 354

Con hold

Turnout: 21.58%

BODICOTE

Peter Davis (LibDem): 277

Ann Graham (Con): 534

Nigel Morris (Ind): withdrew

Majority: 257

Con hold

Turnout: 47.90%

BICESTER EAST

*John Hanna (Lab): 667

Rose Stratford (Con): 1073

Elizabeth Yardley (Lib Dem): 374

Majority: 406

Con gain

Turnout: 27.44%

BICESTER SOUTH

Diana Edwards (Con): 483

Di Pettifer (Lab): 304

Majority: 179

Con gain

Turnout: 24.72%

BICESTER WEST

Norman Bolster (Con): 1130

Kay Brown (Lib Dem): 315

Les Sibley (Lab): 937

Majority: 193

Con gain

Turnout: 30.86%

CALTHORPE

Geoffrey Fisher (Lib Dem): 179

Elizabeth Macleod (Con): 853

Roy Mold (Lab): 379

Majority: 474

Con gain

Turnout: 20.20%

EASINGTON

Andrew Beere (Lab): 232

*Daphne Nash (Lib Dem): 423

Hilary Smith (Con): 952

Majority: 529

Con gain

Turnout: 31.67%

GOSFORD

Maurice Billington (Con): 230

Anne Parsley (Lib Dem): 218

Joyce Ruiz (Lab): 46

Majority: 12

Con hold

Turnout: 47.73%

GRIMSBURY

Thomas Greeves (Con): 568

Sandra Mold (Lab): 644

Majority: 76

Lab hold

Turnout: 18.41%

HARDWICK

Balbiz Dhesi (Lab): 387

*Elsie Milne (Con): 617

Majority: 230

Con hold

Turnout: 19.1%

HORNTON

Elizabeth Gatliff (Lab): 135

Lorna Mansell (Con): 231

Mervyn Probert (Lib Dem): 55

Majority: 96

Con hold

Turnout: 40.7%

KIDLINGTON NORTH WEST

*Andrew Hornsby-Smith (Lab): 564

Christopher Pack (Lib Dem): 852

Majority: 288

Lib Dem gain

Turnout: 31.08%

KIDLINGTON SOUTH EAST

Anthony Chinn (Lab): 435

Devena Rae (Lib Dem): 277

Mary Young (Con): 533

Majority: 98

Con gain

Turnout: 28.19%

LAUNTON

*William Evans (Con): 474

Derek Turner (Lib Dem): 113

Majority: 361

Con hold

Turnout: 34.88%

NEITHROP

*Richard Doy (Lab): 470

Christopher Mills (Con): 339

Majority: 131

Lab hold

Turnout: 11.54%

RUSCOTE

Anthony Burns (Lib Dem): 110

*Wendy Humphries (Lab): 387

Keith Strangwood (Con): 456

Majority: 69

Con gain

Turnout: 53%