IT was a night of very little change last Thursday after voters had spent the day at the polls.

In Mid Worcestershire MP Peter Luff retained his seat by polling more than twice the Labour vote with 24,783 but MP Sir Michael Spicer's majority was cut by more than half to 2,475.

Sir Michael said: "The result was entirely because Labour voters switched to Liberal Democrat."

He added: "I am glad to be serving the citizens of West Worcestershire for the ninth time. My priority is to see the new hospital in Pershore get off the ground." As chairman of the 1922 Committee, the parliamentary party, he said there were many issues to discuss, but Sir Michael would not comment on the future of the leader of the party Michael Howard. He said: "We have got a good leader at the moment."

Mid Worcestershire MP Peter Luff said: "I am very pleased the constituents gave me this huge vote of confidence. I have no illusions over the battles which lie ahead. There's a new hospital to be built in Evesham and a GP surgery. I am also very concerned about the train services to London, but am also delighted that Evesham has got it's post office back."

Standing in the same constituency, local Liberal Democrat candidate, Margaret Rowley, a former CND marcher, was disappointed not to have beaten the Labour candidate into second place, but remained optimistic. She said: "We increased our majority and the Labour candidate's was reduced."

David Bannister for Labour, admitted he was a late entry and was delighted he did so well. In contrast Anthony Eaves, the UK Independent Party candidate, accepted he was going to come last. He said: "The party has only been in existence for ten years and we struggle to get the message across, but I was proud."