ALCESTER'S new county councillor Nina Knapman has paid tribute to her predecessor after holding on to the seat for the Liberal Democrats in Thursday's elections.

Mrs Knapman said she felt she had a tough time ahead of her following in the footsteps of Susan Juned, who stood down to concentrate on her Parliamentary campaign.

"It's going to be tough to follow what Susan has achieved in the past 12 years but it is the faith she had in me and the faith of the people of Alcester which has put me here.

"I shall work to the very utmost to live up to that faith and would like to thank her for everything she has done and to everyone who voted for me."

About 4,000 Alcester people voted in the county council elections, a turnout of 66.65 per cent.

Boundary changes in the county meant new wards for some councillors and former Wootton Wawen representative Richard Hobbs was voted in for Aston Cantlow, where the turnout was 71.81 per cent.

He said: "I'm delighted to have won and there are a lot of things I want to do for the villages."

Bidford's county councillor Peter Barnes retained his seat, which now includes Salford Priors.

There was a turnout of 65.49 per cent and Mr Barnes thanked the people of Bidford and promised to "work tirelessly for them for the next four years" on such issues as the sand and gravel pit application.

In Studley, where there was a turnout of 64.7 per cent, Helen McCarthy also kept her seat.

She said: "I'm very pleased people in Studley have supported the Conservatives and extremely grateful to everyone who helped."