TRUIMPHANT Tories have maintained their tight grip on politics and policy at Wychavon District Council.

Close margins were evident between battling parties but Conservative candidates managed to secure 31 seats, two more than 1999 when the party celebrated a landslide victory.

It was a reasonable night for Liberal Democrats who achieved 12 seats, gaining two wards, although party leader

Margaret Rowley just scraped her Bowbrook seat.

Labour supporters went home disappointed with just two wins, both in Droitwich, and there were no celebrations for the Spa's independent candidates Claude Healey and Ron Waters.

Key community figures went head to head in a number of areas, including the new East ward which saw a battle of the titans.

After a nailbiting wait until the early hours of the morning, and a tense re-count, returning officer Sid Pritchard revealed Tories Mike Barratt and Pam Davey had scooped two seats over Labour's campaign manager Peter Pinfield and colleague Sheila Neary.

Cllr Barratt is now expected to become district chairman while Cllr Davey gave a sigh of relief.

This year she decided not to contest her town leader position and described the district election campaign as "rough".

There were just 24 votes between Cllr Davey and Cllr Pinfield, who is Labour leader on both Droitwich town and Worcestershire County Council.

Commenting on the overall success of the Tories, Peter said: "I hope the residents of Droitwich don't regret their choices."

Former Spa mayors Eve Freer (Lab) and Graham Gopsill (Lib Dem) were both vying for the one and only Central seat.

Freer was initially the successor, but a re-count saw the well-known pair shuffle places and Graham won by just three votes.

Town mayor Terry Spencer and former mayor Maureen Lawley, both Tories, won district seats in the new South West ward for the first time, while Roy Seabourne and John Wrenn, who made a return after four years, maintained safe Labour seats on West ward.