THE Conservative party has hung on to power in Worcester, but will continue to rely on the Mayor's casting vote after failing to win overall control.

Yesterday's local election left a night of mixed fortunes for the ruling group - it gained seats in two of the city's 12 wards and lost one.

But the number of seats it holds remains at 18 after it withdrew the Conservative whip from All Saints councillor Mohammed Altaf, who is facing a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The Labour group lost two seats, taking its tally on the council to a record low of 10.

But sitting councillor Geoff Williams beat off competition from the British National Party in Holy Trinity ward, and the Liberal Democrats doubled its representation on the council from one seat to two.

Elsewhere, it was a good night for Wychavon's Conservative ruling group, which took 31 seats out of the 45 available to stay in control of the district.

The leader of the council, Coun Malcolm Meikle, was delighted with the outcome.

"It was a fairly traumatic evening for the major candidates of all parties, but I said 25 to 27 Conservative seats would be a good night. We've easily exceeded that total," he said.

One of the biggest casualties was Labour heavyweight Peter Pinfield, who was defeated in Droitwich East ward.

"It was a very close run thing, a very tight vote," he said. "We'll now have to see how we fare in the town council results."

The biggest shock of the night in Worcestershire came in Malvern Hills, where the Tories lost control of the district council to the Liberal Democrats, which now holds 19 seats to the 13 of its rivals.

Wyre Forest became a hung council after the Independent Kidderminster Hospital and Health Concern group lost control.

The group lost three seats to the Liberal Democrats, Liberal Party Focus Save Our Hospital and Labour.

Herefordshire Council had a record-breaking 60 per cent turnout in its pilot postal vote.

The Liberal Democrats lost its hold on the county, taking 16 seats, against the Tories' 21.