RICHARD Taylor's crushed rivals have warned him the district will expect results following his landslide victory.

Conservative Mark Simp-son said voters would expect progress within 12 months on the fight to restore services to Kidderminster Hospital.

And ousted Labour junior minister David Lock took the same line.

"There are very, very serious questions raised here but it's for Richard to put the case to Government now.

"The views of senior doctors are if Richard gets what he wants it would be medically unsafe," said Mr Lock, who claimed the issue had been subject to "enormous misrepresentation".

"I'm confident without a proper medical case there won't be any restoration of any services that are unsafe."

Mr Simpson warned Dr Taylor: "You must bear in mind there are a considerable number of people in Wyre Forest who have high expectations of what you can deliver.

"I suspect a considerable number of people voted for you in the belief you could bring the hospital (services) back."

But both men recognised an undeniable and unprecedented display of democracy in action.

Mr Simpson said: "Politics is and should be about people. There is little doubt that, on a night that nationally has not been a good night for my party, the people have spoken."

Mr Lock added: "This is the verdict of the people and as a democrat I accept that."

Mr Simpson was consoled by "the Liberal Democrat's admission that they are finished in Wyre Forest", referring to the party's withdrawal to back Dr Taylor.

He said: "Hopefully now the Wyre Forest Labour Party will have got the message that people in this area are very dissatisfied indeed with their treatment at the hands of New Labour."

Mr Lock said it had been a "privilege" serving as Wyre Forest MP and was looking forward to spending more time with his family.

UK Independence Party candidate James Millington left the count long before the results were announced.

"I could see what was going to happen - they weren't counting Dr Taylor's votes out but weighing them," he said.

He said Health Concern should never have become political and viewed Dr Taylor's success as "the worst thing that could have happened for the hospital".

"He is a very pleasant man but he's no politician," Mr Millington added.

"It was an amazing result - I thought he might win but not by that margin."

And he pointed the finger at "political hysteria" in the district - leading to good district and county councillors being unseated - surrounding the Health Concern movement.

"How long this is going to last one doesn't know, by next year it may well be over."