IIT was a night of high drama and shocks in council elections across the south.

The votes are in and councils across Hampshire are now in place.

There was shock in Southampton as the city's Liberal Democrat leader Adrian Vinson lost his Portswood seat to Conservative Paul O'Neill.

Southampton City Council leader Simon Letts retained his seat in Bitterne, fending off a challenge from UKIP's Thomas Collier.

Daily Echo:

Keith Morrell (above) made history by becoming the first independent councillor on Southampton City Council after winning the Coxford ward.

There is also a recount later today for the two seats up for grabs in Millbrook after a recount fail to separate the candidates.

In Eastleigh, the Liberal Democrats managed to fend off a UKIP surge by regaining all the party's seats.

Further history was made in Fareham as 24-year-old Christopher Wood (pictured top) become the first UKIP councillor elected onto Fareham Borough Council after he won the Stubbington ward.

The Liberal Democrats lost control of Portsmouth as Ukip gained six seats.

The under-fire MP Mike Hancock has lost his council seat ion the council after attempting to be re-elected as an independent.

Mr Hancock, who was suspended from the Liberal Democrat party in January, lost his Fratton seat on the city council to Ukip's Julie Swan.

There was no Lib Dem candidate in the contest.
Mr Hancock was first elected on to Portsmouth City Council in 1971 and has represented Fratton since 1973.

The Portsmouth South MP sits in Parliament as an independent as he faces a civil case for alleged sexual assault.