THE Liberal Democrats took a hammering in West Oxfordshire, losing almost half their seats.

Group leader Richard Andrews was one of three Lib Dems voted out in Thursday’s election.

The party, the council’s main opposition to the Conservatives, now has only four of 49 council seats.

The Tories increased their majority from 40 to 44, winning the former Lib Dem seats and gaining another after an Independent switched sides.

Conservative leader Barry Norton said: “What a fantastic night for the Conservatives. It’s a ringing endorsement of the work we are doing for the people of West Oxfordshire.

“Year after year they have put their trust in us and we will repay that every time.”

Deputy Liberal Democrat leader Julian Cooper said: “It was a very disappointing evening for us, there’s no hiding from that.

“I think it was national issues to some extent. There are tough times and tough decisions.

“We are experiencing major setbacks as the consequence of being in Government, but we will battle on and we shall be back.”

Richard Andrews lost the Eynsham and Cassington seat and Liz Leffman failed to win the Charlbury and Finstock seat, after Michael Breakell stepped down.

Peter Madden lost his former Carterton South seat to Conservative Michael Brennan.

Charles Cottrell-Dormer switched from Independent to Conservative, winning the Tories the Stonesfield and Tackley seat.

Labour’s Eve Coles retained her Chipping Norton seat, with 23-year-old Conservative David Lydiat a close second.

In Witney East, Labour’s Duncan Enright received 1,006 votes, narrowly losing to Conservative candidate Sian Davies’ 1,131 votes.

Mr Enright said: “It’s frustrating that we weren’t able to take Witney East, but we came really close.”

He said the left-wing parties had split the vote, allowing the Conservatives to hold the ward.

He added: “It’s clear there’s majority support for the things we have stood for in the election.

“I hope that next time the opposition can unite and fight together to win.”

Out of a total of 26,119 votes cast, the Conservatives received 14,365, Labour 4,532, Green 3,499, Lib Dem 2,880 and Independent 843. The overall turnout was 45.9 per cent.

The Green Party’s Stuart MacDonald said: “It’s a marvellous result for us. We must have 15 per cent overall.

“We have never done anything like that.

“When people are given the opportunity to vote Green, they seize it with both hands.”

The make-up of the council is now 44 Conservatives, four Liberal Democrats and one Labour.

It was previously 40 Conservative, seven Liberal Democrats, one Independent and one Labour.