THE Liberal Democrats retained control of South Lakeland District Council in yesterday's local elections.

In six of the eight contested Liberal Democrat wards they increased their majority.

Most noteworthy was Cllr Nick Cotton's success at Sedbergh and Kirkby Lonsdale Ward where he was elected with a majority of 778. In 2012 he won the seat with a majority of just 69.

Elsewhere Cllr David Fletcher saw off competition from Conservative General Election candidate Ann Myatt to retain Hawkshead Ward for the Liberal Democrats, and the party's majority doubled in Staveley-In-Cartmel ward.

The national elections saw the Liberal Democrats have a majority on eight different district councils including two in Scotland which they gained from the SNP.

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: "It's really humbling. It felt so positive for us as I was around the constituency over the last few days but there's always contests.

"I think these results prove that running a positive campaign and using power to do good things like doubling recycling, creating jobs and building affordable homes works.

"I hope we can show that we deserve these results."

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Liberal Democrat incumbent council leader Peter Thornton added: "We have been in power for ten years now. People have seen how we have done in the last ten years and rewarded us.

"I think the huge swings to the Liberal Democrats reflect that."

All contested wards were held by the incumbent party, except for Ulverston Town Central, which was gained by the Conservatives from Labour.

Conservative Norman Bishop-Rowe won 204 votes to incumbent Bharath Rajan's 187, ensuring the only gain of the evening went to the Tories. Dr Barath Rajan has just finished his term as mayor of Ulverston town council.

SLDC Conservative leader Cllr David Williams said: "I am delighted that we have won a seat, albeit from Labour as opposed to the Liberal Democrats.

"But we have won one more seat when in truth a lot of those we contested we did not expect to win because the Liberal Democrats had very big majorities.

"I hope that this gain will be reflected nationally as nationally the main opposition is Labour. We set our sights inward when we look at local elections but when you look nationally the Liberal Democrats are pretty well finished. They are a rump."

UKIP had put up candidates in more wards than previously but none of them won their respective seats.

UKIP chairman David Walker, who was standing in Hawkshead, said: "We are not expecting a huge amount of votes but future success is all about getting exposure for UKIP from a small base. On small things we shall build.

"Any growth is a success. UKIP has been in the area in the past but this is the first time we have had a group of candidates. We are giving people the serious option of UKIP in the area for the first time and therefore we believe we are expanding democracy."

There are 51 seats representing 45 wards on South Lakeland District Council. The current state of the parties following the elections is: Liberal Democrats 32; Conservatives 16; Labour 2 and Independents 1.

The Liberal Democrats retained overall control of the council.

The turnout for the district elections was 16,007. This was 48.4% of the eligible electorate of 33,072.

The ward with the highest turnout was Levens, with 64.1%. The ward with the lowest was Ulverston East, with 31.6%.The results were as follows:

- Arnside and Beetham: LIB DEM HOLD: Jill Abel, Green Party: 82; Pete McSweeney, Liberal Democrats: 1220; Alan Piper, UKIP: 93; Peter Smillie, Conservatives: 399; Lois Sparling, Labour: 77

- Burton and Holme: CONSERVATIVE HOLD: Roger Bingham, Conservatives: 919; Andrew Chapple, Green Party: 59; Gordon Higton, Liberal Democrats: 108; Nigel Warner, Labour: 111

- Coniston and Crake Valley: CONSERVATIVE HOLD: Anne Hall, Conservatives: 391; Mark Kidd, Green Party: 49; Val Sykes, Liberal Democrats: 172

- Crooklands: LIB DEM HOLD: Sheila Eccles, Liberal Democrats: 611; Meg Hill, Green Party: 45; David Matthews, Conservatives: 263; James Hamilton Malcolm Nightingale, UKIP: 32

- Hawkshead : LIB DEM HOLD: David Fletcher, Liberal Democrats: 478; Gwen Harrison, Green Party: 50; Ann Myatt, Conservatives: 240; David Rimmer Walker, UKIP: 55

- Levens : LIB DEM HOLD: Dave Cope, Labour: 19; Yana Doidge, UKIP: 21; Kevin Holmes, Conservatives: 323; Annie Rawlinson, Liberal Democrats: 715; Claire Wickham, Green Party: 19

- Lyth Valley: CONSERVATIVE HOLD: Kate Barkes, Green Party: 30; Bex Cooper, Liberal Democrats: 220; Alison Gilchrist, Labour: 34; John Holmes, Conservatives: 482; Stephen Wilmott, UKIP: 43

- Milnthorpe : LIB DEM HOLD: Rupert Audland, Liberal Democrats: 482; Steven Hurst, Conservatives: 253; Shona Kidd, Green Party: 11; Jo Magne, Labour: 33; Oksana Walker, UKIP: 40

- Sedbergh and Kirkby Lonsdale : LIB DEM HOLD: Nick Cotton, Liberal Democrats: 1557; Nick Cross, Labour: 114; Mary Jackson, Green Party: 84; Alex Toubas, Conservatives: 779

- Staveley-In-Cartmel : LIB DEM HOLD: Ben Barker, Green Party;: 27 Sue Sanderson, Liberal Democrats: 512; Brian Thornton, UKIP: 57; Ted Walsh, Conservatives: 220

- Staveley-In-Westmorland : LIB DEM HOLD: Stan Collins, Liberal Democrats: 456; Fran Richardson, Green Party: 112; Harry Taylor, Conservatives: 125; Albina Thornton, UKIP: 34; Peter Train, Labour: 68

- Ulverston Central : CONSERVATIVE GAIN: Norman Bishop-Rowe, Conservatives: 204; Andrew Hudson, Liberal Democrats: 64; Christopher Loynes, Green Party: 25; Bharath Rajan, Labour: 187

- Ulverston East : LABOUR HOLD: Judith Filmore, Green Party: 53; Peter Hornby, Conservatives: 143; Frances Nicholson, Liberal Democrats: 44; Mark Wilson, Labour: 259

- Ulverston North : CONSERVATIVE HOLD: Ray Beecham, Liberal Democrats: 95; Simon Filmore, Green Party: 110; Helen Irving, Conservatives: 252; Judith Pickthall, Labour: 249

- Ulverston South : CONSERVATIVE HOLD: Loraine Birchall, Liberal Democrats: 44; Joan Casson, Labour: 144; Bob Gerry, Green Party: 45; Peter Richards, UKIP: 59; Amanda Rigg, Conservatives: 268

- Ulverston Town : LABOUR HOLD: Reuban Allonby, Conservatives: 137; John Clough, Labour: 272; Dave Khan, Liberal Democrats: 42; Bill Shaw, Green Party: 68

- Ulverston West : CONSERVATIVE HOLD: Bob Brown, Labour: 158; Gordon Brown, Liberal Democrats: 58; Janette Jenkinson, Conservatives: 389; Robert O'Hara, Green Party: 34

Voters are also deciding on who will be the new Cumbria Police and Crime Commissioner.

The South Lakeland turnout for the PCC elections was 29,528. This was 36.53% of the eligible electorate of 80,839.

Standing are Liberal Democrat Loraine Birchall; Conservative Peter McCall; UKIP's Michael Pye; Independent candidate Mary Robinson and Labour candidate Reg Watson.

The count for the PCC will take place tomorrow.

Also being contested today are a number of Parish Council seats in South Lakeland.

The Gazette will be at the count tomorrow at South Lakeland Leisure Centre and will be bringing you the results of the Cumbria PCC elections.