IN the Eastleigh Borough Council elections, the ruling Liberal Democrats gained two seats at the expense of the Conservatives, taking their tally to 34 on the 44-seat council.

A total of 16 seats were being contested, including one by-election caused by the resignation of a Lib Dem councillor.

The Conservatives, who now have seven seats, also lost control of the local area committee for Chandler's Ford and Hiltingbury. The Conservatives and the Lib Dems now have four seats each on the eight-seat area committee.

Labour held on to the only seat they were defending on the night, their group leader, Peter Luffman, beating off a Lib Dem challenge in Eastleigh South. Labour have a tally of three council seats.

2006 EASTLEIGH Borough Council ELECTION RESULTS

Botley (Liberal Democrat hold) Fraser, Catherine Mary (Lib Dem), 1146 Briggs, Martin George (Cons), 419 McKay, Elizabeth Ann (UKIP), 78 Kosted, Geoffrey John (Lab), 72 Turnout 46.7 per cent

Bursledon & Old Netley (Liberal Democrat hold) Millar, Hugh Cohu (Lib Dem), 1028 Milne, John Alexander Gordon (Cons), 698 Humphrey, Beryl Alice (UKIP), 114 Truscott, Elsie Doris (Lab), 97 Turnout 34.4 per cent

Chandler's Ford East (Liberal Democrat gain) Holden-Brown, Pamela Georgina Ellen (Lib Dem), 890 Cocks, Doretta Anne (Cons), 575 Webber, Paul Michael (UKIP), 94 Clayton, Peter Miklos (Lab), 84 Turnout 43.89 per cent

Chandler's Ford West (Liberal Democrat hold) Broadhurst, Alan Fredrick (Lib Dem), 1077 Simmonds, Matthew David James (Cons), 685 Bays, Ann (UKIP), 91 Grice, Philip Martin (Lab), 81 Turnout 44.47 per cent

Eastleigh Central (Liberal Democrats hold two seats) Irish, Wayne (Lib Dem), 951 Gupta, Deepak Kansal (Lib Dem), 845 Hadley, Christine Anne (Lab), 772 Luffman, William Edgar (Lab), 733 Quane, Robert (Cons), 593 Grajewski, Judith Margaret (Cons), 513 Challis, Stephen Charles (UKIP), 214 Turnout 34.8 per cent

Eastleigh North (Liberal Democrat hold) Sollitt Maureen Ann (Lib Dem), 1081 Hellier, Jayne Michelle (Cons), 529 White, Edward Tiras (Lab), 280 Smith, Neil David (UKIP), 193 Turnout 34.4 per cent

Eastleigh South (Labour hold) Luffman, Peter (Lab), 970 Kyrle, Martin John (Lib Dem), 775 Smith, Felicity Jennings (Cons), 298 Snook, Samuel Thomas (Ind), 227 Turnout 38.46 per cent

Fair Oak and Horton Heath (Liberal Democrat hold) Spearey, Philip Edward (Lib Dem), 1053 Rhodes, Christopher John (Cons). 903 Sorley, John Robertson (Lab), 168 McGuinness, George Hugh (UKIP). 143 Turnout 34.53 per cent

Hedge End Grange Park (Liberal Democrat hold) Bloom, Louise Ann (Lib Dem), 1019 Philp, Paul Michael (Cons), 562 Carter, George John (Lab), 46 Bradbeer, Caroline Janice (UKIP), 39 Turnout 38.5 per cent

Hedge End St. Johns (Liberal Democrat gain) Skinner, Julie Ann (Lib Dem), 1298 Hall, Jeremy Charles (Cons), 1006 O'Donoghue, Michale Steven (UKIP), 246 Turnout 43.5 per cent

Hedge End Wildern (Liberal Democrat hold) House, Keith (Lib Dem), 920 Hudson, Peter James (Cons), 550 Estall, Frederick William (UKIP), 103 Turnout 38.6 per cent

Hiltingbury East (Conservative hold) Caldwell, John Lewis (Cons), 1326 Child, Peter John (Lib Dem), 587 Stewart, Marion Ellen (UKIP), 109 Addison, Beryl Iris (Lab), 73 Turnout 51 per cent

Hiltingbury West (Conservative hold) Davidovitz, Colin Robert Hyman (Cons), 994 Smith, Grahame John (Lib Dem), 839 Young, Vivienne Angela (UKIP), 79 Butt, Kevin Richard (Lab), 53 Turnout 48.1 per cent

West End North (Liberal Democrat hold) Tennent, Bruce (Lib Dem), 871 Dickinson, Neville Edwin (Cons), 577 Durham, Edith Maryiel (Lab), 100 Bradbeer, Daniel John (UKIP), 64 Turnout 41.24 per cent

West End South (Liberal Democrat hold) Sortwell, Joyce Winifred (Lib Dem), 960 Campbell, Reginald Hugh (Cons), 515 Clarke, Daniel John (Lab), 125 Stewart, Peter William (UKIP), 98 Turnout 37.7 per cent

Full election story in next week's Hampshire Chronicle (Chandler's Ford, Eastleigh, Hedge End and South Hants edition)