THE Conservatives lost a Hampshire council seat to the Liberal Democrats last night.

Nursery boss Nick Gregory won a Fareham Borough Council by-election with 933 votes.

His closest rival in the Fareham West ward was Tory Stephen Day with 687.

The by-election was called after Conservative Diana Harrison retired due to ill health.

The result still leaves the Tories with a huge majority of 23 councillors to eight Lib Dems. There are no Labour councillors.

Turnout was 35 per cent.