THE New Forest is today still in the hands of the Conservatives after a nail-biting finish to the district council elections.

They emerged with 32 of the 60 seats, against 27 Liberal Democrats and one Independent.

Defiant Conservative council leader Mel Kendal insisted: "Frankly, we didn't deserve to lose, not only from the way we have run the council but we have also fought hard to oppose government's plans for regional authorities."

His only disappointment, he said, was that he felt the UK Independence Party had prevented the Conservatives from winning an additional seat - in Lymington's Buckland ward.

With two seats still to be declared at Bransgore - both were eventually won by the Tories - he said: "I am disappointed that the UKIP candidate has split the vote."

There was also some dissatisfaction at Marchwood, where beaten Conservative Alan Shotter complained that after being involved in "good, clean and proper" elections over 41 years, he had finally been on the wrong end of misleading propaganda which falsely claimed his village had the highest parish rate in the district.

The Liberal Democrats were disappointed at being beaten overall despite runaway dominance through the Totton and Waterside wards.

The elections saw further erosion of Independent influence, with Danny Cracknell in Ringwood South the only survivor. Of his former fellow Independents, Geoff Spikins from Ashurst did not seek re-election and Roy Bowring from Hordle lost his seat after 27 years.

Romsey voters helped the Conservatives keep control of Test Valley Borough Council. They have 30 seats with the Liberal Democrats claiming 16 and Independents two.